How to make your own Bronze shift bushing. Options

[rick 918-S]

I needed to change my rear shift bushing for my side shift transaxle. The last time I installed my drive assembly I used some shrink tube around the outer surface of the busing to tighten it up in the hole through the shift console. Even though I used the shrink tube it was still loose on the outer surface and even looser on the inside hole. Here's a picture showing the space with a pick tool.



Heres a picture of the band aid repair.



And the shrink tube.



And the real reason I used the shrink tube. The bushing was cracked.

[rick 918-S]

So, I was at Menards looking for some hardware when I spotted some bronze bushings. I rememered I wanted to fix this plastic problem for some time and bought several sizes to see what I could come up with.

I ended up using a 5/8 I.D. X 3/4 O.D X 3/4 long shoulder.

I checked the 5/8 I.D. bushing on my shift shaft and it seemed to fit OK. A little loose but not any looser than the plastic one I had.

Then I tried the 3/4 I.D X 7/8 O.D X 3/4 bushing into the shift console. I Ended up filing the bushing some but in the end I just filed out the aluminum console. It was slightly out of round so I couldn't quit get the bushing to fit. In the end the fit was VERY snug! I also shortened the length to about 3/8" so I could push it into the aluminum console without it coming though the other side.

Then I filed the 5/8 I.D. X 3/4 O.D X 3/4 so it would slide into the 3/4 I.D X 7/8 O.D

Here are a couple photos. You'll get the picture.





Then I used some red Lock-Tite



Then I used a clamp and a socket and pressed the two bushings into each other and the console.