26-50

M2 Shift Cable Noise, Allison Transmissions
FLA COE
FLB COE
FLD Conventional
Business Class
FLC 112 Conventional

Century Class Conventional
Argosy COE
Cargo
Columbia

Coronado
> Business Class M2
Cascadia
108SD/114SD

Freightliner
Service Bulletin

Description of Revisions: This bulletin replaces the version dated
September 2013. The procedure and parts table for kit ORS
59565 have been added, and the parts table for kit KPP 294201
has been revised. The warranty table has been revised, and the
QuickClaim table has been removed.

General Information
Some M2 vehicles with Allison 6-speed transmissions may produce a buzzing or chirping noise emanating from
the shift lever. This usually happens when the transmission is in 6th gear, and the vehicle is moving at 50 to 65
mph (80 to 105 kph). Shifting out of 6th gear stops the noise.
For production units, a shift cable isolator kit was developed and implemented January 9, 2013 to eliminate the
cause of the noise. For service, the production-equivalent kit ORS 59565 was designed to fix the problem for
both transmission-mounted-PTO and non-PTO applications. A new, longer shift cable is also required when installing the kit.

NOTE: As an alternative for non-PTO applications only, kit KPP 294201 may also be used, if
available.

Procedure for Installing Kit ORS 59565
NOTE: Kit ORS 59565 is compatible with both transmission-mounted-PTO and non-PTO applications.
1. Test drive the vehicle and confirm it has the problem described in "General Information."
2. Park the vehicle on a level surface, set the transmission in NEUTRAL, shut down the engine, and set the
parking brake. Chock the tires.
3. Remove the two capscrews that attach the shift cable bracket to the transmission, and the nut that holds
the transmission shift lever on the shift selector shaft. See Fig. 1.
4. Remove the P-clamp that attaches the shift cable to the underside of the cab floor near the pass-through
into the cabin. See Fig. 2, item 1.
5. Remove the dash trim panel (dash surround).
6. Remove the T-handle dash panel (Fig. 3, item 8) from the dash.
7. Slide the cable up through the floor pass-though far enough to make it easier to access the back of the
T-handle shift control assembly.
8. Remove the cable clamp that attaches the cable housing to the back of the T-handle assembly. See Fig. 3.
9. Disconnect the cable from the T-handle assembly.
10. Remove the pivot pin and jam nut from the upper end of the cable to make it easier to pull the cable
through the floor pass-through.
11. From underneath the cab, pull the disconnected cable assembly down through the floor pass-through.
12. Remove the boots from the T-handle end of the new cable assembly. See Fig. 4.
13. Insert the new cable up through the floor pass-through, far enough to easily attach the cable and its housing to the back of the T-handle assembly. See Table 1 for cable part number.
14. Install the boots on the upper end of the cable housing.
15. Install the jam nut and pivot pin onto the upper end of the cable.

Freightliner Service Bulletin, September 2014

Page 1

26-50

M2 Shift Cable Noise, Allison Transmissions

Freightliner
Service Bulletin

FLA COE
FLB COE
FLD Conventional
Business Class
FLC 112 Conventional

Century Class Conventional
Argosy COE
Cargo
Columbia

Coronado
> Business Class M2
Cascadia
108SD/114SD

4

1
3

7
2
2

6
1

A
1

07/31/2014

A.
1.
2.
3.

5
4
3
08/21/2014

1.
2.
3.
4.

Capscrew
Shift Cable
Pivot Pin
Lever

f261451

5. Shift Selector Shaft
6. Shift Cable Bracket
7. Clamp

f261465

For detail of area, see Fig. 1.
P-Clamp
4. T-Handle Shift
Shift Cable
Control
Dash Trim Panel
Fig. 2, Existing Shift Cable Installation

Fig. 1, Existing Shift Cable Installation at the
Transmission

16. Install the cable on the T-handle assembly, with the pivot pin in the approximate center of the adjustment
range (threaded cable end).
17. Tighten the jam nut snugly against the pivot pin.
18. Install a cotter pin on the pivot.
19. Install the T-handle dash panel on the dash.
20. Install the shift lever on the transmission, pointing down, as shown in Fig. 5, with the letters identifying the
pivot holes facing outboard. Tighten the lock nut 15 to 20 lbf·ft (20 to 27 N·m).
21. Install the new bracket on the transmission, using the capscrews from the kit. Tighten the capscrews 38 to
45 lbf·ft (51 to 61 N·m). See Fig. 6.
22. Assemble the nuts, flatwashers, and lockwashers on the cable, and feed the cable through the grommet in
the new bracket. See Fig. 6 for the order of assembly. Set the position of the lower cable housing so that
the range of cable adjustment is within the available threads of the cable.

Page 2

Freightliner Service Bulletin, September 2014

26-50

M2 Shift Cable Noise, Allison Transmissions
FLA COE
FLB COE
FLD Conventional
Business Class
FLC 112 Conventional

Century Class Conventional
Argosy COE
Cargo
Columbia

Freightliner
Service Bulletin

Coronado
> Business Class M2
Cascadia
108SD/114SD

7
2
3
2
1
8
6
5

09/04/2014

f261467

1. Cable
2. Boot

4

1
2

3. Cable Housing
Fig. 4, Cable Boots

3

08/21/2014

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Shift Cable Housing
Boot
Cable Clamp
Wiring
Jam Nut

f261466

6. Pivot Pin
7. T-Handle Shift
Control
8. T-Handle Dash Panel

Fig. 3, T-Handle Shift Control Assembly

23. Install the jam nut and pivot pin onto the cable.
24. Attach the pivot pin on the shift lever.
25. Tighten the housing stop nut and jam nut (Fig. 6, items 7) against the spacer.
26. Make sure the shift control on the dash is set to NEUTRAL, and the shift lever on the transmission is in the
neutral position, as indicated by the flats on the shaft and the neutral position figure cast into the transmission housing. See Fig. 7.
27. Adjust the position of the pivot pin along the cable rod so it is lined up with the hole in the shift lever. The
pin should insert freely into the shift lever hole when the pin is aligned correctly.
28. Tighten the jam nut snugly against the pivot pin.
29. Install the cotter pin on the pivot.
30. Install the P-clamp near the floor pass-through.
31. Install the dash trim panel (dash surround).
32. Test drive the vehicle and make sure all the gear functions work, including auto park brake (if applicable),
and that the update has fixed the problem.

Freightliner Service Bulletin, September 2014

Page 3

26-50

M2 Shift Cable Noise, Allison Transmissions

Freightliner
Service Bulletin

FLA COE
FLB COE
FLD Conventional
Business Class
FLC 112 Conventional

Century Class Conventional
Argosy COE
Cargo
Columbia

Coronado
> Business Class M2
Cascadia
108SD/114SD

1
2
1

3
7

6

4

3
5

8

4

6

7

2

3

B
7

4
5
A

6

08/01/2014

f261462

A. Install the pivot pin here for transmissions
WITHOUT the park (P) position.
B. Install the pivot pin here for transmissions WITH
the park (P) position.
1. Neutral Position
4. Shift Cable
Figure
5. Jam Nut
2. Lock Nut
6. Pivot Pin
3. Cotter Pin
7. Shift Lever

07/31/2014

1.
2.
3.
4.

f261463

Shift Cable Bracket
Shift Cable
Capscrew, M10
Flatwasher

5.
6.
7.
8.

Spacer
Lockwasher
Nut
Grommet

Fig. 6, Shift Cable Bracket Installation, Kit ORS 59565

Fig. 5, Shift Lever Installed, Kit ORS 59565

Procedure for Installing Kit KPP 294201
NOTE: Kit KPP 294201 is only compatible with non-PTO applications. For vehicles with transmissionmounted PTO installations, use kit ORS 59565 (see "Procedure for Installing Kit ORS 59565" above).
1. Test drive the vehicle and confirm it has the problem described in "General Information."
2. Park the vehicle on a level surface, set the transmission in NEUTRAL, shut down the engine, and set the
parking brake. Chock the tires.
3. Remove the cotter pin, then remove the pivot pin and shift cable from the transmission shift lever. See
Fig.1.
4. Remove the pivot pin from the shift cable.