Tom writes:
I have to believe there is an easy fix for this problem, but I haven't been able to figure it out on my own.   Any ideas?

Jeff writes:
You want simple?  That problem bothered me so bad that one day I removed the shifter handle and tightly stuffed cloth from a ripped up sock into the tube around the rod.  3 yrs. later and still no more vibrations, rattles, etc.  If that cloth ever works it's way down the tube, I'll know it in time to remove and reuse.

Good luck.
JB