Somehow in my removing the transaxle from the motor something got hung up and the fork and clip which I found later came off. The release fork is ok but the clip got a bit deformed. I am trying to bend it back so it fits snugly on the ball but it not an easy task and I don't want to heat it and lose the temper. I have it in place but its tightness on the ball is not what I think it should be. How much effort should be required to pull it off? What I really need is another clip but I cannot find one anywhere unless I want to buy another Tranny on EBay.
Does anyone here have one of these clips stuck in a parts drawer they would be willing to part with?

 

Silly question.

Can you make one from something else of similar material shape and restoring force?
Like a specialty cotter pin (completely off the top of my head)?

You might get lucky at a less than organized wrecking yard that still has transmissions on the vehicle bodies.

Of course, keep your eyes open for part outs and manual to automatic swaps

 

@jamnar I can't remember what you were swapping to where But I think it was only the engine. Do you have a manual S series transmission laying around?

 

Derf
I have toyed with a few off the wall ideas like putting the clip in place and then snug fit O ring over the ball then pushing the fork on. My thinking is the O ring take out some the play. Also I have an assortment of gromits and since the open end of the clip legs slides around the narrow neck of the ball perhaps a gromit would widen the necks surface and the slightly widened clip legs would fit more snugly around it.
My worry is when I got this all together and the fork comes loose its a pain in the kister to have to remove that transaxle...not like my days of yore with rear wheel drive cars with the exception of those old ford closed drive line vehicles.

 

I've only ever dealt with Saturn automatic transmissions.
I wish I could have a manual but that's not happening for reasons.
Sorry, no manual laying around.
I do have a spare automatic. Shifts kind of funny.

 

@DropDead ,

Any chance you could source this part? Yes it's for an S car and although it is probably beneath you, o Ion master, acquisition of said item will be of immense assistance to the OP.

Thanks.

 

Derf,
I found one sourced from B&R Auto Wrecking, Bend Oregon. It be a couple weeks before it gets here. I won't tell you the price as it was shocking to say the least as it also includes the fork. On looking for the part I needed I have seen the asking prices on other Saturn parts I have seen. I will have a lot of SC2 parts eventually from the doner 97 SC2 I have. Most its body panels are good, glass is good except for the windshield. So by next summer I will know what all I have. Big stuff will have to be local pickup though.

 

No problem. Happy for you.

Dropdead has a way with sourcing parts from down south where things don't rust. We all try to work together to keep these cars on the road.