PROBLEM SOLVED.
Thanks to all for input. I do not recall the name but someone hit the nail on the head with the thought about the shaft from the steering wheel was out of line with the forks. It was 180' off.
The tab on the end of the shaft appears to be a press fit.
As I see this item, there are 2 posssible causes of the problem I experienced:
1. Something breaks: tab, fork, spring, shaft.
2. 1st/Rev or 2nd/3rd arms get out of alignment and at the same time the shaft is either moved up into 1st/Rev position and rotated.
Problem no. 2 can be corrected with the shifter box either on or off the steering colum as follows:
First notice the machined notch at the end of the shaft. This notch is for proper alignment of the gear shif lever and shaft in the cab with the shorter shaft in the shifter box. If this machined notch is facing up and the 1st/Rev and 2nd/3rd arms are aligned and straight out to the side of the shifter box then the tab inside the shifter box is in the correct position and it should be engaged in the 2nd/3rd fork when the shaft is released. If the notch is down you have to first rotate the 2nd/3rd arm out of alignment with the 1st/Rev arm. Now rotate the shaft until it stops. This should position the tab next to the side of the fork. Now pull up on the shaft, as in trying to shift into 1st/Rev and gently rotate the shaft about 1/8 turn. To verifity, release the shaft and it should NOT move back more than 1/4". This positions the tab on the top of one of the fork tips. Now gently continue to rotate the shaft in the same direction and it should snap into the fork. To check for proper engagement hold the 2nd/3rd arm and try to rotate the shaft, it should not rotate. Finally, re-align the 2 arms and you are ready to re-install on the steering column. When doing this, keep the arms even and at a 90 angle to the shifter box (towards the center line of the truck). Be careful not to let the shaft rotate or linkage arms move significantly out of alignment when you are re-installing the shifter box on the steering column.
When connectiong the 2 shafts it is easiest with a helper in the cab. Move the shift lever only enough to alighn its shaft with the shaft of the shifter box. Be careful not to rotate the shifter box shaft.
If anyone wants some pictures e-mail me and I will send. Please put in the subject box 'Chevy 3 speed column shifter' My e-mail address is
[email protected]Thanks again to everyone and best wishes for 2012.
Bob
