The Toploader gearbox came equipped with a aftermarket Hurst Competition Plus shifter. It was dirty and all the grease inside looked like "stoned". It was hard to shift gears, especially to engage reverse. The linkage threads were rusted and most of the linkage bushings were broken or lost. I took some pictures of the disassembly to have reference when assembling.
The Hurst shifters are hard to find spare parts for so I hoped that there would not be many parts missing or broken. Here is a shot of parts in order they were removed.
This shifter was missing dust cover and the locking bushing for the shifter core. I also have to drill and make a new thread for the other bolt attaching the shifter to the adapter plate.
I managed to find a
Hurst Pit Pack including steel bushings and locking pins off the shelf in
USParts .
After some brushing and solvent and wiping, the parts looked much nicer. The linkage end threads and adjusting nuts were threaded. All the parts seem to have a number stamped on them. Here are the shift plates and one of the rods.
All part numbers found on various parts
|
Part |
Number |
|
Arm, reverse |
2725 |
|
Arm, 1-2 |
2723 |
|
Arm, 3-4 |
2108 |
|
Rod, reverse |
3207 11 |
|
Rod, 1-2 |
1720 16 |
|
Rod, 3-4 |
2772 12 |
|
Stick |
3177 |
|
Lever, reverse |
2350 |
|
Lever, 1-2 |
2182 |
|
Lever, 3-4 |
2051 |
|
Side cover |
2043 |
|
Adapter |
3176 |
|
Housing |
2093 |
|
Patent number |
3216274 |
|
Patent number |
3306126 |
The assembly is simple, but a couple of things are to be remembered.
 |
| Shifter shaft and spring assembly cleaned up |
 |
| Some grease and the first one of the thin plates |
The thin plates look symmetric but they are not. There is a notch on on the bottom arc in the corner facing rearwards (in the above picture it is on the upper right corner.
 |
| The reverse shift lever |
 |
| The second thin plate. Note the notch on this one also. |
 |
| More grease and the 1-2 shift lever |
 |
| The 3-4 shift lever |
 |
| And the last thin plate |
Now the pile of levers is ready to be installed in the housing. I applied some grease on the facing surfaces. Some sources tell to place the washer in the groove of the housing, if it is available. The washer can be seen in the below picture. I placed it there but later found out that the washer I had did not belong there and I had to remove it. I still do not know where the washer came from, but for sure it is from this shifter.
 |
| Housing with the unnecessary washer |
 |
| The lever package being slid in the housing |
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| The main sleeve going in |
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| The sleeve sits flush with the housing |
 |
| I can not figure out the purpose of the steel washer... |
 |
| ...but I placed it the anyway |
 |
| The other end was missing a bracket |
 |
| I made a bracket by of my own and secured the bolt. |
 |
| Not much left. The end bracket on the right goes back next. |
 |
| The adjustment screws and main bolts |
 |
| Done ! |
I did not pay much attention to the visual side of the job because this is most of all a functional device. I still need to get a couple of seals and gaskets for my Toploader prior to be able to engage the shifter to it.
