54 fig4 in outer gimbal sphere 50 this configuration allows shift rod 14 and inner gimbal sphere 56 to pivot in the fore and aft direction within the outer gimbal sphere 50 a pair of short pivot pins 62 are retained in the remaining two cylindrical pin receiving openings 54 in outer gimbal sphere 50 the ends of short pivot pin 62 are received in semi cylindrical recesses 28 formed in collar 24 this configuration allows the shift rod inner gimbal sphere and outer gimbal sphere to pivot from side to side within collar 24 a pair of followers 68 are received in springs 66 interposed between base 12 and the lower outer gimbal hemisphere 40 springs 66 bias the outer hemisphere 50 and shift rod 14 to a center position followers 68 prevent springs 66 from wearing against the bottom of outer hemisphere 40 fig6 is a partial sectional view taken through short pivot pins 62 of shift assembly 10 in one embodiment short pivot pins 62 are secured in position in lower outer gimbal hemisphere 40 with set screws 86 as illustrated shift rod 14 includes a spherical tip formed at the end of the shift rod opposite handle 14 spherical tip 80 is configured to engage a corresponding feature in the transmission that assembly 10 is mounted on fig7 is a second sectional view of shift assembly 10 taken through pivot pin 64 of fig5 as illustrated pivot pin 64 passes through a pivot hole 88 formed in shift rod 14 the ends of pivot pin 64 are received in pivot receiving holes 54 fig4 formed in outer gimbal sphere 50 to enable the shift rod to pivot around the pin in a fore and aft direction.