Loose 205 Shifter Lever; How to Keep it Snug? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

roger0080 · 08-22-2009, 01:42 AM

What is the secret to having a NP205 shifter lever work with a snug operation and not that loose-as a-goose lever action with the bolt working it's way out?

For years mine was snug and no wobbling in the lever, then one time I put it in 4WD and it became loose. I then cleaned the bolt threads, greased it all up, was good for 2-3 shifts, then blamo! loose as a goose again and I have to keep tightening up the bolt! I take this on trips out west and I don't want to loose the bolt and I don't want to keep crawling under to tighten it down.

Should I put some thread locker on the shifter bolt??

4x4Poet · 08-22-2009, 03:14 AM

Wave washers help.

4x4Poet · 08-22-2009, 03:26 AM

Also, make sure the spring clip shafts are sized to fill the shifter rail holes. Size up, if needed, but keep their size able to be installed without tools. I've found loose fitting cotter pins there. Not good.

And use washers between the clips and shifter with a thickness to take out slop. The higher the grade SAE washers, the greater the thickness. Doubling up washers, as needed to fill the gap, is a cheaper fix. Washers also spread the force across the clips.

Too tight of a washer sandwich might transfer vibrations to the shifter in the cab. Neoprene washers on each side of the shifter's rail hole might help with the vibration issue. I haven't tried that yet.

Experiment with the small parts.

**special-K** · 08-22-2009, 07:24 AM

Loc-Tite,too?

08-22-2009, 01:42 AM	#1
roger0080 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Carver County, Minnesota, USA Posts: 626	Loose 205 Shifter Lever; How to Keep it Snug? What is the secret to having a NP205 shifter lever work with a snug operation and not that loose-as a-goose lever action with the bolt working it's way out? For years mine was snug and no wobbling in the lever, then one time I put it in 4WD and it became loose. I then cleaned the bolt threads, greased it all up, was good for 2-3 shifts, then blamo! loose as a goose again and I have to keep tightening up the bolt! I take this on trips out west and I don't want to loose the bolt and I don't want to keep crawling under to tighten it down. Should I put some thread locker on the shifter bolt?? __________________ 72 Chev C-10 90% restored (former AZ truck) ... 71 Chev K-20 Cheyenne my vacation crusier... 72 Chev C-10 Now retired and striped after many faithful miles... 72 GMC 1500 Retired to the junk yard after bought new in '71...

08-22-2009, 03:14 AM	#2
4x4Poet Registered User Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: "Under Montana skies." Posts: 1,836	Re: Loose 205 Shifter Lever; How to Keep it Snug? Wave washers help. __________________ '71 GMC K20 Suburban, '71 GMC K10 Suburban, '72 Chevy C10 CST Suburban, '72 Chevy K20 clunker pickup.

08-22-2009, 03:26 AM	#3
4x4Poet Registered User Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: "Under Montana skies." Posts: 1,836	Also, make sure the spring clip shafts are sized to fill the shifter rail holes. Size up, if needed, but keep their size able to be installed without tools. I've found loose fitting cotter pins there. Not good. And use washers between the clips and shifter with a thickness to take out slop. The higher the grade SAE washers, the greater the thickness. Doubling up washers, as needed to fill the gap, is a cheaper fix. Washers also spread the force across the clips. Too tight of a washer sandwich might transfer vibrations to the shifter in the cab. Neoprene washers on each side of the shifter's rail hole might help with the vibration issue. I haven't tried that yet. Experiment with the small parts. __________________ '71 GMC K20 Suburban, '71 GMC K10 Suburban, '72 Chevy C10 CST Suburban, '72 Chevy K20 clunker pickup.

08-22-2009, 07:24 AM	#4
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,852	Re: Loose 205 Shifter Lever; How to Keep it Snug? Loc-Tite,too? __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~

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