Paul, Thanks for your reply. Your post says, "I was talking about the ball and spring in the spherical part at the bottom of the stick...". Yes, so am I. This is the area where there is a brass round hollow dish that bears the round steel semi-sphere near the bottom end of the shifter stick. You go on "this part will typically be the most worn along with the slots in the in the cover that makes the stick sloppy". Gotcha. As a measure of wear, there remains a strong sixteenth inch of brass, thickness, at the bottom of the brass bowl. As for the slots, they look pretty shot I think. I have Danny's (?) post about using pieces of a roll pin and enlarging the slots to take out slop here, and I have bought a 3/8" roll pin to give it a try. You ask, "Is there a little spring loaded ball in the bottom or an empty hole?" I see neither one...The shifter stick goes on down to the slotted plate, and that has a spring to make you think before you hit reverse. Looking upward on the stick there is the spring that pressures the stick down into the brass bowl.

The reason I asked about taking the stick apart is to try installing a washer above the spring, for more pressure (tightness) on the stick. I am on to the engine now so there is currently no progress on the M40. I have the parts, and it will happen soon. I appreciate your interest in helping. The part about the "little spring loaded ball " has me wondering... Rick H.