Buddy Club SS, is this normal?

[tinman5]

I have recently found it difficult to find fifth gear. Best way I have to explain it, it just seemed that fifth gear "moved". I dissassembled the dash to remove this ghastly alarm my car came with and discovered this:

http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z141/gumby74/Short%20shifter%20damage/D7492A04-4A09-48B6-AE68-DDAB4670258E-30082-000008E19B57F73B-1.jpg

http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z141/gumby74/Short%20shifter%20damage/25CEC154-4573-4C2D-BC34-E60DED268352-30082-000008E18FA84E97.jpg

The ball/bushing appears to be split in half. Cant remember if this is the way it came ot what. There is some play in the ball (hehehe) as the shifter is moved. As soon as I dig up the stock shifter I will install that until I figure out whats up with the Buddy Club.

[Silvercard]

I checked out mine. I can confirm that mine also has that split on the left and right side. No problems getting into 5th.

[tinman5]

Thats odd. The stock shifter is the same however it is solid. There is no play between the lever and the ball where as my Buddy Club shows a good 1/8" of play as the split bushing opens. It only affects the 4-5 shift.
Driving normally going to shift from fourth to fifth and bam!! All of the sudden theres a wall. I thought maybe the tranny crapped a syncro and without full dissassembly will not know for certain, but a local transmission specialist/friend took the car for a spin and said the same thing. Tranny shifts perfectly fine, he spotted 5th gear in two different positions. One was really close to third and second would be the natural position. But he said he would be glad to tear apart the gear box and install an lsd while in there. It doesnt happen all the time but was becoming more frequent. I discovered going into neutral and downward and right just a bit will land fifth with some normality.
I'm stumped. Gonna install the stock shifter tomorrow. Bummer.

[lemonhead228]

When i first install my bcss i kept mixing up 3rd and 5th. and when im in neutral i tried to put in in 5th and hit the wall also but its just that i went over to the right to much. Im use to it now cuz it really shortens the left throws alot too

[tinman5]

Unfortunately this just happened all of the sudden. I drove over to a friends house to install my Kpro and on the first test drive, bam! I couldnt find 5th gear.
I have contacted Buddy Clubs customer service via email. We'll see what happens. If needs be I will buy a new shifter as it truly us a great product.

[Draw7Seven]

Not to rain on any parades, but pretty sure it's discontinued. Maybe they'd find one in a warehouse if they liked you enough, Idk. Ask them for a DC5 kit while you're at it, if they do.

[tinman5]

Damn. Its discontinued again?!?

[lemonhead228]

nah i just check and corsportusa still selling it for 159 free shipping and ebay selling it for 169

[T_Virus]

They were discontinued and then came back. Best shortshifter though, never had any problems when I had mine.

[Draw7Seven]

Oh wow I didn't know they came back! CRSX (errr Kseriesparts) doesn't have any for the DC5, I'm gonna check Corsport. Thanks!

[lemonhead228]

lol np. yea no doubt the best shifter. it makes the driving experience in my car more sharp

[tinman5]

Oh wow I didn't know they came back! CRSX (errr Kseriesparts) doesn't have any for the DC5, I'm gonna check Corsport. Thanks!

Youre killin' me Goose!! All good though.
Buddy Club warrants the shifter for a year, I however bought mine over a year ago. Sucks but I will be buying a new one. It really is that good of a product that this defect (what can I say? Nothing is perfect) is steering me away.

[civsirmt]

have you checked all you shifter bushings and cables under the hood? maybe its time to replace them(bushings)
i would hate to see you buy a new shifter for nothing. i never had a problem with that shifter except when i just outright broke the lever:mangel:

[tinman5]

have you checked all you shifter bushings and cables under the hood? maybe its time to replace them(bushings)
i would hate to see you buy a new shifter for nothing. i never had a problem with that shifter except when i just outright broke the lever:mangel:

Unfortunately I replaced the cables with new dealership items a couple years ago and installed aluminum bushings as well. There is simply excessive play caused by the seperation on the right side of the bushing. I have since installed the stock shifter and aside from getting used to the wider gate, the gearbox shifts crisply as it did a few weeks ago when this all began.
Such is the nature of modifications and upgrades. I know this and I accept the consequences of my choices. Sucks ass, but, it's gonna be alright.

[Draw7Seven]

Get another one...... :P

Mine lasted the entire time I drove it, and was installed by the previous owner! Did you call BuddyClub at all? We love them to death, I wonder if they wouldn't make this right even outside of the warranty period.

[tinman5]

Yeah I've contacted them. Even agreed to warrant the shifter if it wasn't to far over a year. Unfortunately for me its been well over a year. I am a man of my word and agreed to respect their option. I understand this problem is a rarity as I have yet to find another thread for both the BC and stock shifter showing similar problems. Oh well...
Even Honda and Toyota crank out a lemon once in a while. Prob'ly pick up a new one in a month or so. My ass still kind of stings from this last round of automotive purchases. $600 for the GTI's cooling system and damn near $2500 for the EP including snazzy new Autometer gauges, Kpro and intake set up.
I wonder if stamp collecting is cheaper and equally satisfying?