Apparatus and method for repair of shift cable ends in various motor vehicles

An apparatus for coupling a shift cable end and shift lever, said shift cable end comprising an elongated member having a coupling aperture extending through the elongated member and diametrically opposed semi-annular openings bordering and radially aligned with the coupling aperture, said shift lever comprising an elongated member having a first cylindrical. member, a second cylindrical member, and a spherical member, comprising:

• a cylindrical member having a leading edge and a trailing edge;
• a cylindrical bore running lengthwise through the cylindrical member;
• coupling members protruding angularly from the cylindrical member into the bore;
• alignment and securing members extending out from the outer surface of the cylindrical member adjacent to its leading edge;
• an inner cylindrical member running lengthwise inside the bore from the trailing edge of the cylindrical member to the coupling members;
• and
• an outer cylindrical member around the cylindrical member, said outer cylindrical member having two diametrically opposed, semi-annular notches for alignment with the coupling aperture and semi-annular openings in the shift cable end.

A method for coupling a shift cable end and shift lever, said shift cable end comprising an elongated member having a coupling aperture extending through elongated member and diametrically opposed semi-annular openings bordering and radially aligned with the coupling aperture, said shift lever comprising an elongated member having a first cylindrical member, a second cylindrical member, and a spherical member, comprising:

• providing a bushing having a cylindrical member with a leading edge and a trailing edge, a cylindrical bore running lengthwise through the cylindrical member, coupling members extending angularly from the cylindrical member into the bore, alignment members extending out from the outer surface of the cylindrical member adjacent its leading edge, an inner cylindrical member running lengthwise inside the bore of the cylindrical member from the trailing edge of the cylindrical member to the coupling members, and an outer cylindrical member around the cylindrical member, said outer cylindrical member having two diametrically opposed, semi-annular notches for alignment of the outer cylindrical member with the semi-annular openings in the shift cable end;
• enlarging the coupling aperture with a drilling tool until the coupling aperture is of a diameter marginally greater than the diameter of the cylindrical member of the bushing;
• inserting the bushing into the coupling aperture by aligning the outer cylindrical member with the semi-annular openings bordering the coupling aperture;
• simultaneously applying a sufficient compressive force to the trailing edge of the bushing and inserting the shift lever into the bore of the cylindrical member until the spherical member of the shift lever passes the coupling members of the hushing and the coupling members engage the second cylindrical member of the shift lever.