The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline Shifter doesnt pull back on 50

I put the 3spd column shifter back in my 50 today and the shifter box is mounted to the column. When I pull the shifter back to test motion, it doesnt pull back. I adjusted the shifter box fore and aft on the steering column and it changed movement slightly. I am thinking maybe there is a problem in the shifter box. Has anyone rebuilt one of those? I took the cover off and not sure how its supposed to look in there. Any thoughts?

parts manual diagram - the pawl that the shifter moves should be directly in line with the 2 forks when in neutral, looks like so when clean [55-59 pictured, but same as '50 inside], you likely have the arms that the trans rods attach to mal-adjusted so as to misalign the forks

Bill

"so when clean" can be the key.. the shifter boxes can get all gummed up with crud and old grease which can keep the parts from moving freely. i see you're in Wisconsin where it is cold and that can cause problems if the box doesn't have lo-temp grease in it. I have taken several apart and in many cases the grease was like wax and in one case the box had some DIY shims in there to account for wear but all they did was jam up the works...

I would start by making sure the transmission is in neutral. Then take the top of the shifter box and make sure it is lined up like the picture red58 posted above. Did you have the shift lever and rod out? With a little more information the guys here can dial you in to get it fixed.

Here are a couple of more images that might help.
RdsLessTaken/Don

Shifter Box:
http://s1291.photobucket.com/user/R...%20Boards/IMG_80142_zps5e9171f5.jpg.html

Transmission Levers:
http://s1291.photobucket.com/user/R...g%20Boards/IMG_2704_zpscb1dbb8d.jpg.html

Library:
http://s1291.photobucket.com/user/RdLessTaken/library/

This will help alot guys so thank you. One more question - is the box itself supposed to mounted a certain distance up/down on the column? I did clean out the box already. The grease was like wax in there.

not certain abut your year, but on all mine there's a 'nub' on the column that sets the position of the box, it can't move much from that - also the length of the rod out the firewall and the position of the trans arms pretty well dictates where it needs to sit

Bill

I may be overlooking the obvious on this here but am back to troubleshooting my issue. I confirmed I do have the shifter box together properly after disassembling again. I am wondering now if I have the shifter handle/shaft mount messed up. The upper mount to the column is threaded to the yolk that moves back and forth when you pull the shifter handle back. That cant be right because its trying to pull the mount off of the column. Are the threads on the yolk not supposed to be threaded to the column mount? I have a few sets of these too so they may be mixed up. Some have different sized and stepped threaded areas.

well, we can't help of you got parts mixed up, but you should find a picture and instructions in the shop manual as to setting up the shifter - bottom of this page and the next should be the same as yours, things need to be adjusted

Bill

You need the upper support. I'm not 100% but I think the part number is #3686806. They are known to have the threads pulled out of them.

Do you have the Truck Shop Manual? It explains how to move the box up or down on the mast to adjust for the specified clearance between the shifter arm and the steering wheel.
Carl

was able to fix it today.