Shift fork support structure in a manual transmission

Abstract

A shift fork support structure in a manual transmission of such a type that a shift fork is axially slidable on a fork shaft comprising a bushing press-fitted into apertures formed on the shift fork and engaging the fork shaft. The inner peripheral surface of the bushing is coated by Teflon layer. With this structure, the frictional resistance between the shift fork and the fork shaft may be reduced, thus permitting the shift fork to be smoothly operated.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A shift fork for an automotive vehicle manual transmission, said shift fork being axially movable relative to a fork shaft, said shift fork comprising: a. a pair of spaced, coaxial openings for slidably receiving said fork shaft, the axial length of the peripheries of said openings being less than the diameter of said fork shaft; and   b. a bushing press-fitted in each said opening, each said bushing including a polytetrafluorethelene layer coating the inner peripheral surface thereof, said polytetrafluorethelene layer being disposed for slidable contact with said fork shaft, said bushings having axial lengths equal to said openings.   
     
     
       2. A shift fork as defined in claim 1, wherein said bushing further comprises an annular member made of metal which is press-fitted into said apertures and a bonding material layer which is effective to bond said polytetrafluorethlene layer onto the inner peripheral surface of said annular member. 
     
     
       3. A shift fork support structure as defined in claim 2, wherein said bonding material layer is made of phosphor bronze.