42RLE Shifting Issue After Replacing Bushing

[Harald]

Hi All,
I thought I was doing some preventative maintenance (what was I thinking?) by replacing the bushing at the transmission end of the shifter cable. I had no issues shifting and all seemed well but I noticed the bushing was starting to deteriorate breaking away.
I removed the cable and bushing no issues.
I replaced the bushing and put the cable on back over the bushing. All re-attached.
15 minutes, Job done, (or so I thought).
I jumped in and was able to start it fine, but all of the sudden, could only shift just almost to reverse and no further.
So, I disconnected the cable at the transmission where I had replaced the bushing and tried again, same issue.
I then took off the console to have a look. I am able to fully depress the interlock, which makes sense, I was not having any shifting issues, but even with the interlock fully dis-engaged, the shifter could not be pulled past the “almost reverse” position.
Next step, I disconnected the transmission shifter cable from the shifter assembly, so now with the transmission cable completely unattached and I am able to move the shifter freely. It seems that the cable is preventing the movement. I would think I should be able to pull the cable freely by hand with it not connected at the transmission end, but I can’t move it very much before it stops or binds…
It looks Iike it needs travel a little over an inch to pull to get it down to low gear but it won’t even move far enough to get in reverse. Since the cable is disconnected at both ends and I am only pulling on the cable itself at this point, this doesn’t seem like it could be an electronic issue
I know I when I move around the cable at the shifter , it does wiggle around at the transmission end, so it still seems to be intact.
What could be preventing the cable from moving like it did before I disconnected and reconnected it???

Any advice would appreciated, not sure what could bind the cable like that If that indeed is the issue.

Thanks,
Harald
2005 Rubicon

 

[williambmac]

I would pop the rubber boot off and check where the cable slides into the cable cover. Sometimes the cable may have a Teflon sleeve that helps guide into the cable cover. It may have been pulled out too far and is no longer lining up.
I hope that makes sense.

 

[Harald]

I would pop the rubber boot off and check where the cable slides into the cable cover. Sometimes the cable may have a Teflon sleeve that helps guide into the cable cover. It may have been pulled out too far and is no longer lining up.
I hope that makes sense.

Thanks, I wasn’t sure if I could pop it off or if I had to wreck it to get the boot off. It seems the only logical place that there could be binding like that. I’ll let you know when I get back to it.

 

[Harald]

Thanks, I wasn’t sure if I could pop it off or if I had to wreck it to get the boot off. It seems the only logical place that there could be binding like that. I’ll let you know when I get back to it.

Well, when I pulled back the boot I seen that the Teflon sleeve was cracked with some of itmissing as well, allowing the cable slip out the side. I was able to test by aligning it some by hand and reconnecting at the shifter. I was able to move the shifter again. Bad news is the the cable seems a little stretched now and when I connected it back on the transmission side, it’s a bit long and it bends the cable, which in turn binds it at the Teflon sleeve. So much so it cracked it more. Looks like I’m in for finding a replacement cable. Thanks again.

 

[Harald]

I would pop the rubber boot off and check where the cable slides into the cable cover. Sometimes the cable may have a Teflon sleeve that helps guide into the cable cover. It may have been pulled out too far and is no longer lining up.
I hope that makes sense.

Sry, replied to myself in case you didn’t see this. , not up on all this posting stuff … lol
Well, when I pulled back the boot I seen that the Teflon sleeve was cracked with some of itmissing as well, allowing the cable slip out the side. I was able to test by aligning it some by hand and reconnecting at the shifter. I was able to move the shifter again. Bad news is the the cable seems a little stretched now and when I connected it back on the transmission side, it’s a bit long and it bends the cable, which in turn binds it at the Teflon sleeve. So much so it cracked it more. Looks like I’m in for finding a replacement cable. Thanks again.