Ok picked up a used tranny for cheap from a 85 12a car. Started tearing it apart to inspect and check for repairs and then there was a loose spring in the shift selector house of the tranny. It is located on the long shift tube on top of the tranny that runs from the front of the tranny to the rear of it. The spring is wound around this tube. It looks like some type of tension spring. Does this connect to the screw that is located on the square shift selector seat itself? If I can find my camera I can take some shots.

 

OK here is a pic of the culprit.
Also there is know thread pitch in the hole that is pictured near the spring itself. So I suppose no screw goes there.

 

That spring is to bring the shifter back to center. it needs to be on top so thatthe shifter ball can clip to it. I could be wrong, but I think it just wraps around the tube.

 

I think you are correct because the shifter was loose and never was centered within the gear pattern. I am ordering the shifter bushings for the loose shifter problem. Will try and put it all together when I get off work today. I was also guessing that it might be some type of lock in reverse mechanism or something like that. Shop manual and Haynes manual was no help to me.

 

codeblue is correct. it does return the shifter to center when in neutral.

 

the U shape in the spring should be over the hole the ball end of the shifter goes in. it doesn't return the shifter to center, that's farther up in the housing. what this does is hold the ball end of the shifter down in the hole. it's the reason u really have to tug at the shifter when trying to remove it. but in ur case, it just pulled right out with hardly any effort.

 

The shifter was easy to take out of the square mount. When I took the cover off the spring was just there dangling to the side. Maybe this is the justification for the teardown and inspection. Thanks for the help guys.

 

i think my spring is stopping me from going into reverse... what is the exact correct way for it to be? v on top, with it around the shifter?

 

The spring is there to make it harder to shift into the far right gate. In over half the trannys I've taken out, that spring is broken. It's purpose is 3 fold. helps keep the shifter handle down, keeps the shifter out of the far right right gate and prevents the shifter from rattling. Is it absolutely necessary, no.

 

Thank you because this thing is being a real PITA trying to install it back around the shifter.

 

yes it is.

 

its a pita to move around... awesome... i will try to take it out then

 

M501-17-465B one of the parts we used to stock at the dealership.

along with m501-17-480a (ish)

 

So does the spring lay to the right of the shift or is it clipped right above the ball of the shifter?

 

http://www.mazdatrix.com/faq/transmissiontower.htm