A shift rail rod seal for a transmission shift apparatus. The rod seal includes a case that is over-molded with a seal body that includes a seal lip for engaging a shift rail and a chamfered lip that engages the seal bore chamfered bore entrance when the rod seal is correctly assembled into the seal housing bore. A transmission shift apparatus that is adapted to receive the shift rod seal includes a manifold housing and a clutch housing that together form a sealed cavity. A shift rail and piston are received in the sealed cavity that is pressurized to actuate the shift apparatus.