shift cable end guide stuck....HELP!

gooeyny

Recruit
Joined
Oct 13, 2006
Messages
4
1989 Alpha 1, trying to replace shift bellows but can not get plastic shift guide seperated from the shift wire that is inside of guide. I have the 2 square head set screws removed and can rotate the wire inside of guide and can see cable move back and forth every so slightly (maybe 1/16"), but can not wire to release from inside of guide where the set screws were tightened on it. Spayed with WD-40 and waited overnight, no improvement. Any ideas or suggestions? Am missing something as workshop manual shows cable just sliding out of guide. Any help greatly appreciated!
 

Don S

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
Joined
Aug 31, 2004
Messages
62,321
Re: shift cable end guide stuck....HELP!

Those square head screws usually put a kink and grip marks on the cable that expands the inner cable a little. It just takes a little force to get it off the end sometimes.
 

gooeyny

Recruit
Joined
Oct 13, 2006
Messages
4
Re: shift cable end guide stuck....HELP!

I've tried lots of force, holding brass nut with vice grips and pulling against them with scrfewdriver through end of guide bolt hole and they will not budge. Could I use a dremel and cut end of cable off where I can see it through set screw holes?
 
Joined
Mar 27, 2010
Messages
3,008
Re: shift cable end guide stuck....HELP!

You can if you want to replace the cable. I'm also doing bellows, gimbal bearing & lower shift cable on my 89 Alpha 1 and discovered the shift shaft seal in the bell housing was dry rotted and fallen out. Found out they have a new design shaft bushing and seal kit so now also doing that.
Read that this oil seal can cause water in the u-joint bellows and corrosion in the shift cable. Might be worth looking into while your in there.
 
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