Problem Shifting on the Road - Bloomington, Illinois

[Ahwahnee]

[tencentlife]

That's the part, but rather than loosening on the input shaft, yours looks like the ball end has gone AWOL. Broken to bits I'd bet, which explains how suddenly this came on.
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[Ahwahnee]

Yes, a complete failure of that plastic ball accounts for both the symptoms and the suddenness.

The slop I show in the video is front-to-back but similar slop would occur side-to-side -- meaning a lot more side action would be required to get into 1st & 2nd (check) and the shift for 3-4 would be okay but very vague (double check).

I suppose the metal tang extends down inside that ball which is why I am still able to shift at all.

Thanks to all for advice and ideas they offered.

[Wildthings]

When you go to change the ball, drill a tiny hole (~5/64") in the bottom of the cup so that you can use a needle to pump grease into the cup occasionally.

[Ahwahnee]

Thanks - good idea. I've never been a 'lubed-for-life' kind of guy.

[70coupyel]

Also check the wear on the inside of the cup. The wear inside the cup was the reason my shifting was not right. The first I got to play with this. I would say sticking my finger in there it at least ten thousands deep(0.010) I flipped it drove a few days and got a new part.
Also remember that the bracket in the back(by the cup/ball) gets mounted to the front of the van.
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[ach60]

Ding -Ding-Ding, Winner - Winner Chicken Dinner

[Waldi]

Well, my ball, lever and cup were/are ok and i had this problem 1-2.
Also 3 other vans.
And now ?

Sure this things have to be checked, but i am driving now over 1 year with a bowed "ear" and all is ok.

Edit:
Often the cup is worn out inside.

[levi]

[Waldi]

You will not believe it, but the plastic ball is much more resistand against grinding than the alu cup.
Once the rubber is off it goes relativly fast.

I dont know if you can buy the cup new, but it can be repaired.
Drill it out and insert a sleeve with the orignal inside diameter.

There are alot of componets from front shifting back to the box.
4 bearings, bowed, overused metal parts.
Everywhere a bit and a lot on the end.

But usually this 1-2 shifting problems dont come in a day.

[jimf909]

[Ahwahnee]

Just a quick post-mortem on this problem now that I am home and have removed the offending part.

The operating arm on the trans is supposed to look like this:

Mine had broken and separated thus:

The shifting that did occur had considerable slop as it was occurring only because the tang on that arm was sort of engaging the cup.

The cup was ruined as a result:

I see that GoWesty makes their own replacement:

http://www.gowesty.com/product-details.php?v=&id=23516

And that VanCafe sells one that looks more like the original:

http://www.van-cafe.com/page_251_1883/shift-linkage-repair-kit

Any experience with the GoWesty style?

Any suggestions on getting that roll pin out?

BTW - the 'ears' look pretty good so I am thinking I will leave them be:

Thanks to all who pointed the way on this. We were able to drive another 3000 miles after the problem developed.