Shifter boot replacement

Yes. I used Rubbing alcohol, which is how I also install force-fit bike grips.

 

I just replaced my shifter with a Marlin Crawler short shift kit. You're going to need to remove the shifter to replace that boot. The video posted earlier pretty much explains the whole process and it's actually pretty easy to do. It took me about an hour, and that included removing/replacing the shifter housing (P#33506 in the diagram). If I were you, I would go ahead and replace P#33505B while you were in there....it's almost sure to be worn out.

 

Yeah, I know what needs to be done to get access to the boot. That's not hard. There's ton of info about replacing bushings. That's not what my post is about though. Did you actually replace the inner boot or are you just giving advice on other random stuff?

 

Look at the diagram. Just remove the shaft and the boot slides up from the bottom?

 

That diagram is a little misleading. The boot is actually captured in the middle of the lever between the retainer and the fat shaft. It's not so simple just to slide the boot on or off.

 

I was able to get it to slip over the shift lever with a bit of force. I first soaked the boot in silicone spray for a couple of hours then dropped into a container of HOT water. This helped it become a tad more pliable. Then I sprayed the shift lever with silicone spray and went for it. It went ok until it got to the bulge at the bottom of the lever. I had to use quite a bit of force to get it to snap over. But it finally popped on and no ripping. Yay! It reminded me of Ace Venture trying to get out of the rhino's butt.

 

"Sure is hot in them rhino's"