09 Shifter Lube

chieftmc · 03-13-2009, 09:05 PM

OK,

All you 09 smarties; check your shifter for lube.

YES, I KNOW it was "supposed" to be done at PDI and the dealers are aware there "was" a problem, BUT I checked mine today and it was dry as a bone

Lubed it up and it's "better" than new

smartHHO · 03-14-2009, 07:44 AM

hmm, I guess I will have to check with the dealer. Not having any issues with mine yet. But only at about 2500 miles.

Godfather · 03-14-2009, 11:11 AM

Guess I'll have to toss my '08 shifter lube, for the new and improved '09 variety.

Macaw · 03-14-2009, 11:39 AM

no problems on our '08 or '09 both came from SCI

SmartDigger · 03-14-2009, 11:42 AM

Checked mine. No lube at all. Put in some Super Lube sunthetic lube.
Love this site

jetfuel · 03-14-2009, 12:00 PM

..ok..so the problem with the lack of lube develops all of the sudden with a "can't move the shifter or is there a time when the shifter becomes hard to move and that's the first sign of time to lube...know what I mean Vern?

jetfuel

Old smart · 03-14-2009, 12:17 PM

It is the release button on the front of the shifter knob that gets hard to move (depress). The inner end of the release button has a horizontal sliding cam working 90-degrees against a vertical plunger in the shifter shaft. the plunger is only plastic with very little bearing surface to spread the load - sort of like if a valve cam worked directly on the end of a pushrod or valve stem.

chieftmc · 03-15-2009, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jetfuel

..ok..so the problem with the lack of lube develops all of the sudden with a "can't move the shifter or is there a time when the shifter becomes hard to move and that's the first sign of time to lube...know what I mean Vern?

jetfuel

I don't think it develops over time, it just was NEVER lubed

The button on my shifter started to feel "rough" (that's the best way I can explain it) and was getting a little harder to push. When I opened it up, it was dry as a bone ! Lubed it up and it's "better" than new

Celt88 · 03-15-2009, 06:58 PM

How can we check to see if it has lube ?

mvaldes · 03-15-2009, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Celt88

How can we check to see if it has lube ?

Just take off the knob and look at it and feel it. There was no detectable lube on my 'o8 so I used white lithium grease. It's been fine for the the 9000+ miles since. This thread shows you how to do it. It's really very simple:
DIY gear shift removal and lube (short video)

Hope that helps