Loose Shifter Handle

[340Challman]

I just installed my 4 speed shifter handle after rechroming it and rebuilding the shifter itself. All original parts. I bought the isolator kit from Brewers. My handle is loose. It doesn't come out because of the retaining tang, but it is not snug. I've got every bit of 3/8 maybe 7/16 of side to side movement at the top of the handle before I feel it actually touching the carrier. I always put a little soapy water on everything when I'm installing the handle to help things slide, but noticed it went in really easy. At the time I thought I had put a little too much soap in the water. Well it wasn't the soap. Has anyone experienced this? I looked back at Brewers site and they make no mention of this being a "Hurst" part. It arrived in a small ziplock bag. So no clue where it actually came from. Should I go get actual Hurst parts? I recently rebuilt the shifter in my '69 Cutlass. I think I got the isolator kit for it from Summit. It was definitely a Hurst part. It installed as expected. Very snug, but slipped in with the soapy water. I've never had any issue with parts from Brewers before, but I don't see how this could be just a bad run of parts given the way these are made. Thoughts?

[340Challman]

Well, I now know what the problem is. Across the inside of the carrier measures 0.695". The carrier being the part of the shifter that the handle slides into. The shifter handle itself is 0.367" thick. The isolators measure 0.127" thick. 0.695 - 0.367 = 0.328". The two isolators combined are 0.254" thick. For a grand total of 0.074" of complete slop. Given that the shifter handle is 11" tall, that is probably more than 1/2" of movement at the top of the handle.

The question is are these Hurst parts and if I spend $80+ to get a different kit, will it be the same? I have to say that I am leaning in the direction that the ones from Brewers are not Hurst parts. I can see no reason why you would remove them from original packaging so I think they are sourcing these from someone else. They were only $45 for theirs while everyone else is $75 and up. This is disappointing. I expected better from Brewers.

[Floyd]

@340Challman
I'm getting similar measurements with my original shifter handle.  I also have a rebuilt mechanism (from Brewer's).  The isolator thickness is close to what you have.  There's also a black ruber materiel surrounding the isolators (see pics).  Does your mechanism have that?

I'd estimate the rubber is about .092 thick

[Floyd]

I see the rubber parts are included in the Brewers kit

[340Challman]

Yeah they are. In looking at the pictures you posted of your shifter, I believe you have the Hurst isolators there. You can't tell from the pictures of the ones from Brewers, but they are extremely flat in the area where the rubber sits. They almost look to be machined. Also take not of the sides. There are no welds there on the ones from Brewers. They are spot welded through the sheetmetal. I'm fairly certain the Hurst ones are welded on the sides. Also note that the rubber is virtually the same thickness as the metal portion on the ones from Brewers. All of the pictures I have seen of the Hurst product shows the rubber being considerably thicker than the metal. It has to be otherwise there is no purpose to the rubber. It is the isolator. With it being the same you have a complete metal to metal connection.