Hurst Shifter Disassembly

rzeller · Post by **rzeller** » Thu Jul 23, 2009 1:48 pm

I purchased two copper plated Hurst shifters (one in pretty good shape with a little plating worn off and the other pitted and rusted - parts only) the other day. I currently have a chrome Hurst shifter in my buggy. I was wondering how you take them apart? The chrome one has the plastic boot on it but the others don't. I figured out that if you bend/open the wire loop up at the base you can pull the trigger off by pulling the trigger and the wire out. That will allow me to slide and use the good plastic boot from the chrome one on the good copper one. I am concerned about getting the loop bent back in place and not breaking the wire. The part I can't figure out is how to remove the shifter from the bottom bracket. There are two pins on either side of the ball (that's sandwiched between the nylon housing) that I'm guessing are holding the shaft into the ball. I can't get a pair of pliers on the pins to try and pull them out. Suggestions? Sorry no pictures at the moment. Thanks, Bud

manxdavid · Post by **manxdavid** » Thu Jul 23, 2009 5:35 pm

The plastic boot should just still over the loop with maybe a little liquid soap to help it. You can get replacements from... http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/ ... ?id=810471 I belive he also sells knobs and plastic shrouds.

rzeller · Post by **rzeller** » Thu Jul 23, 2009 6:53 pm

[quote="Manxdavid;14194"]The plastic boot should just still over the loop with maybe a little liquid soap to help it. You can get replacements from... http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/ ... ?id=810471 I belive he also sells knobs and plastic shrouds.[/quote] Dave, Sorry I should have said the plastic shroud. I have the rubber boot, I just can't get the shroud off the chrome one because of the reverse trigger. I'm guessing I have to take the trigger off but I'm concerned about bending the wire too many times and breaking it.

manxdavid · Post by **manxdavid** » Fri Jul 24, 2009 1:52 pm

Strange, that should slip right off as well. That's why so many are missing.

rzeller · Post by **rzeller** » Fri Jul 24, 2009 6:31 pm

Hmmm? I'll spend a little more time on it. Thanks Dave. A friend made a very good suggestion to me last night. To take the rusted shifter I have (it was originally copper plated) and sand it down to the bare metal. Then take it to a powder coater and have it powdered/painted the copper color. I thought that sounded great. The only problem I have is how to separate the parts. I'm thinking the two pins that are on either side of the ball (in the nylon piece) must pull out and allow the shaft to be removed. Anyone know if this is true? I can't get pliers on the pins to pull them out. I'm thinking I might have to drill them out. Anyone take one of these completely apart (down to the individual pieces)?

manxdavid · Post by **manxdavid** » Thu Jul 30, 2009 11:27 am

Did you get it sorted out??? We need piccies!!!

rzeller · Post by **rzeller** » Thu Jul 30, 2009 1:40 pm

Dave, I had to put the work on back burner. My son is getting married this weekend and I have a tsunami of family coming in for a week. I'll pick it back up soon. Bill, Thanks for the idea on how to re-assemble the nylon piece. Bud

manxdavid · Post by **manxdavid** » Thu Jul 30, 2009 4:53 pm

[QUOTE="madmanx;14311"]Dave, I had to put the work on back burner. My son is getting married this weekend and I have a tsunami of family coming in for a week. Bud[/QUOTE] If you run out of space I can recommend the Golden Sands Hotel in Carolina Beach, great Tiki Bar and restaurant too. Also, the Grind is a great little coffee shop/ cafe...

I love your part of the world and vow to return there one day!!! I hope the wedding goes well!!! Wear the trousers with the deep pockets though, you'll need them!!!

rzeller · Post by **rzeller** » Fri Aug 07, 2009 11:18 pm

I survived the family and got some work done on my buggy. I put the old/new shifter in my buggy. There is some wear on the trigger where the plating has rubbed to the metal but I really like the copper look to the shifter. The chrome Hurst shifter I had in there looks brand new. I'll put that away for another project.

As for the other shifter, you can see in this picture the pins I was trying to remove to get the shaft out. I'm going to take Bill's advice and separate the nylon piece and then remove the pins. Right now it's a rusted mess, but I'm hoping to have it powder coated (copper color) or re-plated copper.

Thanks for all the help. Bud