Stock Column shifter won't find 1st or Reverse

[OldSchool53]

So driving home last night I noticed that my shifter wouldn't come out of 2-3. I checked the linkage under the hood (near the firewall). When you manipulate the lever nearest the firewall, you can see the shifter on the column move accordingly. When you leave that lever in neutral and manipulate the R-1 lever and linkage, it seems to find both gears just fine, however it does not cause the shifter itself to move. Any ideas before I start ripping the steering column apart? I'm definitely considering a Duff's floor shifter conversion, but right now on a stock, uncut Bronco I can't bring myself to start modifications just yet.

 

[rwill]

r-1

Check to be sure still connected to trans.

 

[MattW]

Check to be sure still connected to trans.

2nd this. Those little "e" clips or whatever they're called get rusty and break over the years.

 

[orangecrush4u]

It sounds like the column internals are worn, I should know Im on my second over the years and it sounds like the typical symptoms. I would get a rebuilt, I ordered the floor setup and didnt like the way it was going to be placed so I sent it back. I have bought a bronco for my girlfriend at the begining of the summer and it has the floor setup, I hate it the shifter is right against your knee. Well thats just my opionon:-X, but I think your going to need to replace or repair good luck.

 

[OldSchool53]

I got the steering wheel off and I'm learning more than I ever thought I would about steering column internals. It seems as if the shifter is jammed up. It won't pull forward for 1 or R. The linkage from steering column to trans must be good because I can shift it from there into R, start the truck up, let out the clutch, and move it backwards. So if that tells me that the problem must be from the linkage to the shifter, what should I be looking for to be worn or broken?

 

[DirtDonk]

A very common issue is that, if just slightly out of adjustment (from being worn, perhaps?), the transmission safety interlock will not allow the linkage to move.
Get underneath and manually shift both shift arms (the parts bolted directly to the transmission) into their "neutral" positions. You can easily feel and hear the clicks when they're in their mid-positions.
Once there, you should be able to shift into any gear. At least once.
One (the rear one I think?) is for the 1st-Rev shift, the other for 2nd-3rd shift.
If you get them in neutral and can then shift into first or reverse, you'll need to re-adjust the linkage to get things to work together again.

If you need to adjust things (and you might as well anyway, just for the heck of it), start by loosening the nuts holding the shift rods to the shift arms. Make sure that the shift arms are still in their neutral positions.
Manipulate the shift rod levers (on the column) into their centered positions, either by hand, or by using the column shifter if you prefer.
Insert a 3/16" diameter pin (or a drill bit?) into the alignment hole through the center of the two levers at the base of the column.
Re-tighten the two nuts, and you should be good to go.

The exception to the "good-to-go" scenario is if you have a lot of worn out parts. The bushings at the tops of each shift rod, where they attach to the column's arms, can wear out, or even be missing. If so, new ones should be easily available.

Good luck, Hope this helps. Common problem with old column shifters.

Paul

 

[OldSchool53]

I shifted both arms on the trans itself into Neutral. Still no dice from the shifter itself. I get 2 and 3 just fine, but the shifter won't pull back (toward me) to go into R or 1. I'm assuming that the shift tube itself is probably damaged, but I don't think I'm going to bother pulling it out and inspecting. They're not much cheaper than a good quality floor shifter, and I think that's where I'm going to start upgrading my truck. Even when it worked, the column shift was sloppy and awkward. I've put up a post in the parts wanted section for a hurst or duff floor shift conversion kit.

 

[DirtDonk]

I like the floor shifters too. Sold my Duff's though, so can't offer it to you now.
There is another possibility you should at least verify though, if you haven't already.
That same aligning procedure can effect how the column lever pulls back, because if the two tubes are not aligned with each other when you try to pull back, the pins or whatever is in there won't line up either. Ends up with not being able to shift.
Yes, yours might still be so worn out it's not worth saving, but if you can at least get it working reasonably well while you're waiting for your floor shifter to show up, it might be worth it.

Paul

 

[OldSchool53]

I tried aligning them several times. Slid a 4mm allen wrench through the guide and both shift arms with no luck at the shifter. I've only had the truck for a couple of weeks and I guess maybe I got a little aggressive with banging through the gears. I'm usually pretty delicate with older vehicle, but for getting up to highway speeds in the future, a floor shifter is probably my best bet.

 

[DirtDonk]

Oh well, the best laid plans, and all that...
I like the Duff version of the Hurst shifter for the little kink in the lever to clear your knees. Especially good for those longer legged folk among us.

Probably the only two shifters out there really. There may be others, but I haven't seen any.

Paul