Three on the tree shift problem

[Jonathan_Cole]

66 bronco straight 6 with 3 speed. I had an issue with shifting into 2nd and 3rd a while back. The shift collar was split so I replaced it. I decided to go ahead and replace the shifter bushings at the time. While I had it apart I found that the collar on the shift tube was broken. I had that fixed. I got everything back together and it still doesn't want to shift into 2nd and 3rd. When parked in the garage I can go through all gears. When driving it doesn't want to shift.

 

[NJBronk]

Did you adjust the shift linkage on the transmission side (putting a drill bit through the holes on the shift arms at the column side to keep them in neutral and then repositioning at the transmission side)?

When I rebuilt my column, which had worn bushings between the shift arms, I had to adjust everything now that the shift arms actually stayed in place. If your 1st/reverse isn't shifting back into neutral, then the transmission won't allow it to shift into 2nd/3rd.

 

[Jonathan_Cole]

I haven't adjusted anything on the transmission. I'll have to check it out.

 

[NJBronk]

I haven't adjusted anything on the transmission. I'll have to check it out.

I think these are a couple threads on the procedure:

https://classicbroncos.com/forums/threads/help-please-how-to-adjust-shift-rods.215657/

https://classicbroncos.com/forums/threads/3-speed-column-shift-adjustment.229742/

 

[Jonathan_Cole]

I adjusted the rods and still have the same issue. I'm not really sure where to go from here.

 

[NJBronk]

Can you manually shift the transmission arms at the transmission using your hands? Could be internal to the trans?

 

[Oldtimer]

When parked in the garage I can go through all gears. When driving it doesn't want to shift.

When parked in garage, is the engine running, or off?

 

[Jonathan_Cole]

Can you manually shift the transmission arms at the transmission using your hands? Could be internal to the trans?

I can shift it at linkage under the hood or on the transmission without issue.

 

[Jonathan_Cole]

When parked in garage, is the engine running, or off?

Off

 

[Jonathan_Cole]

Njbronk, I believe you are correct and the 1 lever is not completely returning to neutral which locks out the 3/4 lever.

I believe I adjusted the rods correctly per instructions.

Is there something else that would cause the 1/R lever to not return to neutral?

 

[Oldtimer]

Won't shift when engine is running, I am leaning toward 2nd & 3rd synchros.

 

[Jonathan_Cole]

Won't shift when engine is running, I am leaning toward 2nd & 3rd synchros.

I don't think it is. It will go sometimes. I think the 1/R lever is just not returning to neutral as it should.

 

[m_m70]

Won't shift when engine is running, I am leaning toward 2nd & 3rd synchros.

I would agree with this.^^^^
If the problem was your linkage, I don't think you'd be able to go through the gears in the garage when not running.

 

[Jonathan_Cole]

I would agree with this.^^^^
If the problem was your linkage, I don't think you'd be able to go through the gears in the garage when not running.

If it is the synchro's, wouldn't it grind when it does go into gear when running?

 

[Jonathan_Cole]

While still fighting with this column I'm seeing two issues now.

The first, I don't really know how far to clock the white spacer between the shift levers.

The second, as I've seen in another thread, I don't know that the replacement shift collar is allowing the shift tube to push down as far as it should.

 

[Smedley]

I followed this video when I did my build. Worked great.

 

[cldonley]

Are you sure your clutch is completely disengaging? If it isn't, it will cause this issue.

 

[Jonathan_Cole]

Are you sure your clutch is completely disengaging? If it isn't, it will cause this issue.

When it does work properly, it drives like it always has.

 

[Jonathan_Cole]

Just to update this thread.

I ended up taking the column to an old friend of mine who has been building cars for probably 40+ years with experience in custom vehicles as well as NASCAR.

He took everything apart and found a few issues. 1) where the shift levers go into the column was just way too sloppy. I don't know how he did it, but he tightened up the clearance there.

2) I had two shift tubes. One with a good top and one with a good bottom. He took two and made one. He cut them apart and tig welded them together.

3) the new shift collar wasn't correct. I had noticed when I bolted the turn signal housing back on previously it put everything in a bind unless the bolts were just over finger tight. He found a difference of something like 20 thousands between the two collars and ground out some material on the new one to make the clearance correct.

I put the column back in yesterday and finished it up this morning. Per the manual I locked the upper shift arms together with a drill bit. On the transmission the manual says to adjust until the linkage goes through the lever then back off 7 turns. 7 didn't work, 6 seemed to be the sweet spot.

We took it for a drive earlier. It has never shifted this smooth.

 

[Beau Nugget]

Glad you got it working. Your buddy sounds like a good guy to know