My 51 3100 just did the same thing- stuck in first, and I was doing pull-ups from the shifter with no luck. Yes, take off the cover to the shifter box and scoop out the grease. A few things will happen. First, you'll learn how easy that silly "magical" box does its job, and second, you'll see where the slop is in the system. Mine was just outside the box where the control arms connect to the dohickeys that clamp them in place. Great terminology, I know :rolleyes: . Still, you've got to figure out where the play is and tighten it up. As far as I know, there are not-at least on mine-any bushings on the tranny case itself. I just did this 2 days ago, haven't even repacked the grease yet(which I'd recommend doing right away because the slop in the box will let the gears grind). Take the interior trans cover off(under the rubber mat inside the cab) and play with it, you'll learn, plus figure out where the play is. I'd bet, from the ones I've seen, that it's just outside the shifter box on the column, at the bushings there. Add washers, or replace the parts, and off you go. I just used a concoction of rubber washers and larger cotter pins to take up some of the slack, and it's easier than it ever has been to shift. But the wife is still scared of it
. She thinks a three on the tree is some kind of witchcraft. That suits me fine, so she isn't taking it to the store or to rent movies or anything.
