Shifting fork pins
 

I'm rebuilding a shift tower and have a question for anyone that has done so before. As I reassemble I can't figure out how to get the shifting fork pins in. They are supposed to go in from inside the housing so the head will be up when the tower is bolted to the transmission and I have tried feeding them with a bent nosed needle nose and a bent nosed tweezers, but have had no luck getting them started. Is there some secret I am missing?

Re: Shifting fork pins
 

I use needle nose, Vise Grip needle nose, a very small pair of pliers I have, which ever seems to work with the tower I'm working on. I also use a pin the same size to keep the fork aligned with the shaft while I insert the hollow pin from the bottom pushing the temporary pin out as I go and then quickly upsetting the hollow pin very slightly to give me time to place the tower over a drift punch "anvil" to back up the head of the hollow pin while I upset the other end. I use a hollow rivet punch from Synder's to spread the rivet.

This can be trying at times, other times everything just "falls" together. Good Luck.
Paul J.

Re: Shifting fork pins
 

I have used the original pins, (practice makes perfect) I now use a roll pin, they have been used for years in manual transmission, for those worried about them falling out they could be safety wired.

Re: Shifting fork pins
 

Thank you both. I want to use the original style pins if possible so I'll try the vice grip suggestion.

Re: Shifting fork pins
 

I also use the original pins ans only spread the end enough to keep it from falling out. I haven't done on in some time, but as I recall, I used a small long needle nose.