Removing the leather shifter handle for replacement.

[AATLAS1X]

Here is a quick write up on removing the leather shifter handle from a 80 series.

First pic is the shifter, yours would still be in the truck but process will be the same.

After removing the plastic housing to gain access to the wires for the O/D button you will notice the harness to the plug.


The wires are both white. Mark the plug and corresponding wire with sharpie so they go back to the correct location.



Pop up the white plastic retained with a small pick.

 

[AATLAS1X]

Use pic to depress plastic tab to release terminal from plug.

then gently remove them both.

The remove the two screws on the back of the shifter.

 

[AATLAS1X]

Once the screws are removed insert a pic into the leather edge being careful not to damage plastic housing and gently pry out the switch.

 

[AATLAS1X]

Gently pull the wires up through the shifter tube, gently pull the shift lock button up and the shaft will slide out about an inch and the wires will come out. Once it is removed then you can remove shift lock button all the way and slide the shaft from the handle and set it aside.

Remove the inner spring and set aside.

 

[AATLAS1X]

Once apart this is what you will be left with, DO NOT try and remove the inner plastic housing.

If you are replacing the shifter, you will simply reverse the process and make sure to use white grease when re assembling the parts for smooth proper operation.


Shane

 

[Radd Cruisers]

As always................ out standing write up, you aproach to detail is exellent.

Rob

 

[NorCalDoug]

excellent!

 

[96r50]

Thanks for the write up Shane. Are you selling replacement/recovered shifter handles? The leather on mine was taken off at some point by a PO and I want it back

 

[djsherif]

Can the actual leather be removed so that new leather could be added? by a leathersmith (terminology) for example...

 

[AATLAS1X]

Thanks for the write up Shane. Are you selling replacement/recovered shifter handles? The leather on mine was taken off at some point by a PO and I want it back

thanks guys!

I am buying some shifters to have done and they will be sold on an exchange only. Soon I hope.

Can the actual leather be removed so that new leather could be added? by a leathersmith (terminology) for example...

It can be, but it cannot be done while in the car.

 

[djsherif]

Mine is a RHD shifter with no overdrive (HDJ81), will you be able to do mine as well? either cover or replace?

 

[AATLAS1X]

Mine is a RHD shifter with no overdrive (HDJ81), will you be able to do mine as well? either cover or replace?

I would assume that the shifter is the mirror image and I do not have a RHD version. so I would have to have yours for 10 days. But thanks for bringing this to my attention as I will be looking for a RHD version.

 

[djsherif]

I might have a spare coming in some
spare parts I bought. If that's the case I could send it
out to you to use as the test dummy.

 

[AATLAS1X]

I might have a spare coming in some
spare parts I bought. If that's the case I could send it
out to you to use as the test dummy.

It wont be the dummy, that was mine

 

[Bearcat80]

My list of stuff to buy from you keeps growing. If only my budget would grow too. How much for the new handle?

 

[nat88toy]

great write up thanks for sharing I have been meaning to replace the one on the Wife's 80 but was to lazy to figure it out

 

[AATLAS1X]

My list of stuff to buy from you keeps growing. If only my budget would grow too. How much for the new handle?

Don't know a firm number yet but should be around $150.00 based on what it cost for mine in my 100, but I do know that 1993 to 8/02 are all the same.

great write up thanks for sharing I have been meaning to replace the one on the Wife's 80 but was to lazy to figure it out

Just be careful removing the terminal and the wires, everything else is strait forward.

 

[wearsabrowncoat]

Does it matter if the white wires are reversed? I think they will work either way to complete/break the circuit for overdrive.

I only ask because I am working on a replacement shifter and cut the overdrive wires from the donor shifter. I don't known which one is which.

 

[AATLAS1X]

Does it matter if the white wires are reversed? I think they will work either way to complete/break the circuit for overdrive.

I only ask because I am working on a replacement shifter and cut the overdrive wires from the donor shifter. I don't known which one is which.

I have no idea as wiring diagrams make absolutely NO sense to me at all and I was not going to practice on my rig

 

[nat88toy]

Does it matter if the white wires are reversed? I think they will work either way to complete/break the circuit for overdrive.

I only ask because I am working on a replacement shifter and cut the overdrive wires from the donor shifter. I don't known which one is which.

shouldn't matter the switch is completing the circuit, just checked the wiring diagram