Finding Neutral "click" with Port Shifter

[radiojon]

** NOTE: I accidentally posted this in the DIESEL forum; my engines are actually GAS **

Having an issue with finding the Neutral position "click" with my port shifter on my 320DA. The shifter is a little stiff and sometimes requires a little more "umph" to go forward or reverse, but it's certainly not sticking in any way. Had a couple of instances where the engine wouldn't start because I hadn't gotten it set in that Neutral spot.

The starboard shifter is working fine, with an easy, effortless shift in both directions and very pronounced "click" when it comes back to the upright Neutral spot. The only nuisance on that side is that it has a little bit of wiggle-play when it's in Neutral -- you can wiggle the shifter a little bit in both directions.

Could this be a matter of just removing the cover on the shifters and adjusting/greasing some kind of detent or something ... or is it something that needs to be fixed in the cables? I've never popped the cover off the shifters to see how much of the tension/wiggle in the shifters can be controlled there.

Thanks in advance for any insight!

- Mark

 

[JimT]

If your shift levers are the same as my 280 DA then then there you can pop off the cover and make adjustments to the the detent and the tension via two screws on the the starboard side of the box. You will need a shorty screwdriver or possibly one with a right angle. Sounds like you need to tighten the detent a turn or two.

 

[radiojon]

They kinda look like this, Jim (except they have the brass tops; not sure about the brand). So I should be able to adjust to make that port shifter "click" into Neutral?



Thanks.

- Mark

 

[SeaAyeOwe]

Mark, did you get this resolved. I just tried a friends 2008 320DA today - and compared to my 2005 320DA shifters, his has positive feedback when clicking into neutral - and the motion is much freer when placing in both fwd and rev.

if you or anyone else has improved the motion in the shifter it would be great to know what you did.