The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Three on the tree linkage hell

heeelllllllppp!!!

My three speed column linkage sticks like crazy, locks me out of 2nd and third or reverse or first and reverse, way to much fun in traffic...
is there a way to aleviate or fix this problem on the cheep? :confused: :confused: :confused:

bushings?, adjustment? smash it with a hammer? :mad:

( looked under hood and it's jamming up at the slot it loch into from the 1/RV to 2/3 linkage rods)

Well, I'm prejudice. I like the column shift. It has a few bushings, and some other hardware that is probably worn out. You can buy stuff to make it work like new at any hardware store. Just get in there and be BOLD!!!

Mine would get stuck in between gears also and the easy fix was when down shifting shift it in the gears 3-2-1. If you go 3-1 or 3-r thats where it will bind up.
I hope this helps.

New bushings. A long time ago, JC Whitney sold a clip to fit over the fingers to guide the linkage, but this was only a temporary fix. Once you get it rebuilt, keep the linage lubed.

If yours is like my past trucks, the linkage doesn't let you shift out of first going into second. If so, try pulling back on the lever when leaving first, when you get to the H in the pattern move it forward. This was enough to get me by for a long time.

had same problems and mine was due to too much "play". on the linkage right above the cab floor was an area that appeared to be adjustable and sure enuf it was. shortened that baby up and it made a world of difference.

Douglas

I feel your pain. However, I'm mo' lucky--mine only locks up when I'm not really watching what I'm doing and then only when trying to shift into reverse. Be aware that the 3-spd column shift has historically had a few problems like you are experiencing.

Have you spent some time with a friend operating the shifter while you look at linkage points to see if you have too much slop or?

Have you opened up your "shifter box" under the hood to see if you have excessive wear or maybe a lack of lubrication or mud dobber nests, etc.? Just opening it up and taking a look while someone slowly shifts will help you understand how it works and perhaps give you some insight if your problem is there.

what 56picup sez is the thing - open that shifter box [carefully] and clean it out good [will be rotten ol factory grease in it] and you'll find that there is wear on the little forks in there - replace them if they're too worn [or lay some weld on and file'em back to correct] - adjust everything so there's as little slop as possible, and repack the box w/ some good moly grease

oh yeah - then quit makin sloppy shifts!!

Bill

I don't know if your column shift is like mine (57 chevy pickup), but I had shifting problems after replaced my engine & trans. I just needed to adjust the shift mechanism on the steering column (out in the engine compartment - mounted on the steering column).

Douglas,

I don't have a shop manual for your year. Do you? If you check the manual it will tell you exactly how to adjust it. There's usually a slight variation from series to series. I would recommend this first over just tearing it apart. The shop manual will also give you clearances so you'll know if something is worn out and needs to be replaced or rebuilt.

I posted above about how much I like column shift linkage, and that very freaking day started having TROUBLE!!! Guess I'll have to take my own advice and rebuild it! :mad:

Hey all you bolters, thanks once more for all the sage info and co-miseration! :p

It is definately slop in the linkage. The bushings at the trans are worn. I fixed mine by using some bushing material I had in my nuts and bolts drawer.

YES! "Slop" indeed was the culprit. Had it re-built (shims etc.) and it now shifts like a dream.

As a bonus, the unsettling "popping" out of third gear problem I was experiencing seems to have been eliminated as well, and appears to not be synchro or sum such related. :p :p :p :p

To quote a perjuring prez from the last decade, "I feel your pain."
I'm the guy who did the '78 250 engine rebuild and then swapped it from the rusted domestic steel GMC into a Canuck made almost rustless 1984 Chevy that the VIN said originally had the same setup with a 250 and the 3 speed column shift. The ONLY glitch for the entire swap and rebuild procedure was the column shift and its attendant problems. (Now I understand why the guy who I bought it from butchered the floor and put a floor shift in).
After buying a complete column from an auto supplier, finding that didn't quite work, and having the column disassambled and it still locking up, I took it to a dealership where they replaced the shifter shaft inside the column itself. That part lasted 357 days, and then the fork at the end of the column in front of the firewall broke off, but Mr. Goodwrench said, "no problem, you have 8 days left on the warranty." I still have it pop out of second gear if I don't carefully and slowly move it into second, otherwise okay. Needless to say, I keep it lubricated and when May rolls around, I am taking it to the dealer again and having it checked, just in case. There was only one mechanic there in the entire region who knew how to work on column shift mechanisms, so be forewarned...you won't find a lot of help out there.

I guess I got lucky! Just lubed it good with WD40 and it works pretty good. However, I am going to replace the bushings at the steering column end and down at the tranny real soon.

Tha Sage Continues,
Bob
PS,
When I lube it I took the shifter off the column and put one of those little tubes on the WD40 nozzle and squirted about a third of a can down there while another guy was under the hood moving the linkage all around. Worked wonders!

I used to shift gears with the biblical method; "seek and ye shall find." I replaced the neoprene bushings with brass. Now it is very tight and positive. Goes into each gear with a definite "snap".