Transmission Problems

[swilson280]

I have a 302 ford engine with a manuel 3 speed transmission on the floor w/ twin sticks. The truck was been sitting idle for months getting cosmetic work done. During that time I would start it up and run the engine regularly but never really drive it. I drove it home the other night, the transmission got stuck in 2nd gear (I believe). I can't get it back to nuetral or shift to any other gear (idle or on the road). Just before this I was having problems keeping the transmission in reverse, it would pop out regularly. I tried playing around with it yesterday and shifting the twin sticks back and forth hoping to maybe dislodge something, to no avail. I can't get the truck in reverse at all. Going up the slight incline on my short driveway the twin sticks started burning something and smoking yesterday (smelled like plastic).

Would you advise that I immediately take it to a mechanic specifically a transmission specialist or could it just need transmission some fluid? If so how do I add it? Could all of this be from sitting idle for several months? As always thanks for the help, you guys are a great resource.

Sean

 

[broncnaz]

Probably just need a adjustment. You can go underneath and move the shift levers by hand. Sometimes the linkage just gets some wear and needs to be adjusted.
moving your twin sticks does nothing but shift the T case and burning is not cuased by moving. You need to go uinder and take a look maybe something built a nest around your shifter.
As for adding tranny fluid there should be a plug about 1/2 way up the pass side of the tranny just fill until oil is level with the plug hole.

 

[farnorthdan]

Definately sounds like an adjustment issue, I recently put a 3-sspeed floor shifter in my 73' and it is popping out of 2nd when I get on it. I am positive its a linkage adjustment issue and will be pulling the tunnel cover this weekend and adjusting the 2nd/3rd shift rod. Its been my experience that these shift rods need some fine tweeking after install to get them dialed in.

Check your shift rods they might be binding together somewhere.


dan

 

[swilson280]

OK thanks guys I will look into that.

 

[NJB71]

when I use to have a hurst floor shifter, my mechanic had attached the linkage arms to the 3 speed w/ cotter pins(hurst actually makes a hardened c clip to use, and the cotters broke away after usage, take a look at that as well, soon as 1 arm popped off, I was stuck in reverse

 

[lonesouth]

This is my former bronco, so I know a little bit about it. Unfortunately my mekanik did the install on the transmission and shifter and I never did get the shift linkages tuned perfectly.

I'm gonna go over and try to take a look on thursday. The tunnel cover has been sprayed over with bedliner, can I get a good enough look from underneath to adjust the rods or will we need to run a utility knife around the cover to free it?

It had always popped out of reverse, but usually only under load, i.e. backing up a hill or pulling some out.

 

[farnorthdan]

This is my former bronco, so I know a little bit about it. Unfortunately my mekanik did the install on the transmission and shifter and I never did get the shift linkages tuned perfectly.

I'm gonna go over and try to take a look on thursday. The tunnel cover has been sprayed over with bedliner, can I get a good enough look from underneath to adjust the rods or will we need to run a utility knife around the cover to free it?

It had always popped out of reverse, but usually only under load, i.e. backing up a hill or pulling some out.

You will definately be able to make any adjustments at the tranny end of the rods. Depending on how the linkage is attached at the shifter end you may need to access the shifter. I'm betting you will probably have to remove the tunnel cover...



dan