Since the shift rod is quarter inch rod, I made my tool out of 5/16" rod a foot long. Using an electric drill clamped to my work bench (Carefully so I didn’t crush the grip or obstruct any air cooling holes) I turned down one end (with an inch wide mill file) to the quarter inch diameter of the shift rod. That turned end of the rod used another piece of notched scrap lumber clamped to the bench as a steady rest. Then I threaded the drill motor end so I could screw on a nut which would act as a stop (after filing the corners off the nut and the protruding threads off the rod) when re=installing the "O" ring retainer.
I hope that explanation is not too confusing …
