The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline 1959 3 speed shift housing components

I took the top off my shift housing, now 1st and reverse are locked when I put it back on. I have tried to position the two flat notched pieces but no luck. Any suggestions on how to unlock? Everything, including the transmission before I began.

Assuming evrything worked fine before you took the cover off, it sounds like something is jamming inside the shift box.

1. Take the shift linkage loose from the box, using each shift linkage only, check that the trans will now shift. If it does, place trans in neutral and go to step 2. Leave shift linakge disconnected. If it doesn't, fix jam inside trans.
2. Disconnect the shifter rod from shift box at coupling above shift box, check that shifter moves thru all gear positions. If it does put shifter in neutral and go to step 3. If it doesn't fix or replace shifter.
3. If shifter moves correctly, remove shift box cover and unjam internals. Put shift box in neutral, reconnect shifter rod and shift linkage. Check that you can now shift thru each gear.

if you're not sure how the internals of the shift box should look correctly positioned, let me know. I have a spare box I'll take the cover off and take a photo and email it to you.

might just need to disengage the clutch .... pic here inside the box and following pic is factory schematic

Bill

Thanks Bill, I will try cablesmill suggestion first, if that does not work then...

Cablesmill, I have a question regarding two flat pieces with notches in each, they lay on either side of the yoke levers, I do not see them in any of your pictures. Do they just lay next to the yoke levers with the notches lined up with the respective yoke so when yoke is moved it slides in the notches?

Bill, I intended the question to be directed to you, sorry guys, just learning. I have a question regarding two flat pieces with notches in each, they lay on either side of the yoke levers, I do not see them in any of your pictures. Do they just lay next to the yoke levers with the notches lined up with the respective yoke so when yoke is moved it slides in the notches? I looked at all your pics and never saw the two flat pieces.

not at all clear what you refer to .... there are 2 [notched bent] forks and a flat pawl piece [attached to the shaft going up the column] that moves between those forks when you move the shifter - one fork moves the 1-R trans lever linkage, the other moves the 2-3 lever linkage - nothing else involved unless someone bodged yours to repair something broken - is your spring in there? .... as shown in the first pic, the forks should be in line when the trans and shifter are in neutral, and when you pull the shifter the pawl moves up and down fork to fork .... can you take a pic of what you have? or elaborate further

Bill

I'll take a picture tomorrow and post late morning. It doesn't look like a jack leg job, looks factory to me. Unless someone put a non-59 shift box on mine. The spring is in there as is the yokes.

Bill, I do not have a website thus, if I understand thing, I cannot post pictures to you. If you PM me your e-mail address I will attach the three pictures I have taken. If there is another way to send the pictures please advise as my pictures are in my computer pictures file. I look forward to your reply.

the picture showing "shims" on box .... never seen any such in half dozen boxes I've had apart from different years, nor any reference to them in literature - the 2 halves of the box are well machined to fit together tightly without any gasket, those pieces would slip about and easily jam the forks .... regardless of the crack you found, leave those things off, clean the grunge out and re-grease it [no oil], make sure it's all adjusted properly, and see if it doesn't work fine .... I suspect someone made those pieces to "fix" what they thought was a problem .... also, the crack could be repaired [JB Weld maybe] and shouldn't affect anything, you don't need to replace the box

Bill

Thanks for you reply and the time you have given to my issue.
Carl

Carl, I'd like to see your pics, because if I'm not mistaken, those shims Bill is talking about are aftermarket from some time ago. I'll PM you my email.

Update on shift box success. I pulled the two metal pieces, adjusted the distance from lever to steering wheel and 1/8 inch on lever spacing. I drove into the Back To The 50's car/truck show with no problems with shifting. Thanks for the help.

Outstanding!! Always good to hear a successful remedy. Keep On Truckin'!