Mine broke in half at work, so I had to drive 12 miles in 2nd to get home. Had to creep home on side streets, pulling over often to let traffic pass, and at one point, putting along Baseline ave, I got passed by a guy on a 10 speed bicycle.

I bought 2 rods with extra nuts, both left and right hand thread and put the spares in my fork bag. Part numbers 36, 37, and 38 on that ronayer pic.  I'd rather not be stuck like that again.

Not really sure if the PO kicked it hard or maybe it's just not a strong part, I was always easy with it. I do know that I couldn't get enough leverage to move the rear lever at all by hand. So I was lucky it was stuck in gear, it could have stuck in neutral.

After installing the new rod, I did notice how much tighter and precise the shifting motion felt to my toe.

yep... wath out, one of the threads on there is left handed

Rockin_John wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:07:

Yeah, I keep a spare.  I haven't broken one but I bent it pretty well.  I'm thinking of slipping a piece uf tubing over it just short enough to expose the threads and enough room to braze it to the rod.  That should strengthen it a bit.