Transmission question-hard to shift from park

[vitamin_c95]

Curious about my th350. Anyone had an instance where it was hard to shift.out of park? I thought it was just the incline of where I park (4 times now, twice in driveway). Yet, when I parked in the street (level) It still fought me coming out of park. Only out of park, rest of gear range shifts like butter. I am able to gently rock the truck and shift it out of park when ever it does get stuck, which is why I thought it was binding up in the park pawl. Its comparable to a newer car with the shift lock mechanism not letting you shift until you hit the brakr pedal. Is that something internal, or is it something else?

[rockyrivermark]

Check the dedent mechanism to make sure it’s not binding there.
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[vitamin_c95]

Appreciate the response. Will check that this morning

[LockDoc]

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Spray some PB Blaster, Liquid Wrench, or something similar into the top of the steering column, where the shift lever goes in. Don't be afraid to stick the nozzle in above and below the lever and give it a good dousing. After you spray it pull the shift lever up toward you and push it back down toward the dash. It should move up and down a couple of inches. Do this 4 or 5 times. This will help free up any sticking in the shift lever tube. The reason the shift lever moves up and down is because it should be pulled back towards you to shift it into and out of the park position.

It wouldn't hurt to spray the bottom end too, where the shifter arm comes out.

LockDoc

[Steeveedee]

Doesn't all that spray guck drip out somewhere inside the truck? Who wants that guck on their carpet? Or am I missing something?

[mr48chev]

Originally Posted by Steeveedee

Doesn't all that spray guck drip out somewhere inside the truck? Who wants that guck on their carpet? Or am I missing something?

It shouldn't where Lockdoc showed to spray.

Are you pulling back slightly on the shifter. My 71 has been torn apart for a while but I think I had to pull back on the shift lever to get it out of park. Kind of like moving a floor shift to the side to get past the detent.

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by Steeveedee

Doesn't all that spray guck drip out somewhere inside the truck? Who wants that guck on their carpet? Or am I missing something?

If a guy is worried about that they could try a little squirt first...... and hold a rag under it. I guess you could also remove the column and do it on the work bench if you wanted to do it the hard way.

It's just a suggestion, and it works 90% of the time for the problem the OP has.

LockDoc

[garyd1961]

If you have a column shifter knock the pin out and remove the shifter. Grease the ball on the end of the shifter and reinstall making sure it goes in correctly.
When I first got my truck I had the same problem for two years. I oiled the linkage under the hood but it didn't help. One day I noticed the pin in my shifter handle was working out so I pulled it on out and removed the shifter handle.
I forget exactly how but I could tell the shifter was in wrong. I greased it and put it in correctly and haven't had a problem since. Shifts like brand new now.

[Steeveedee]

Yes, column shift. I've had my lever out due to the roll pin walking out, as well. Too bad I didn't think to grease it then! It's frying-eggs-on-the-sidewalk-hot outside right now, so that job will have to wait until tomorrow morning. Thanks for the pointer!

[vitamin_c95]

Originally Posted by garyd1961

If you have a column shifter knock the pin out and remove the shifter. Grease the ball on the end of the shifter and reinstall making sure it goes in correctly.
When I first got my truck I had the same problem for two years. I oiled the linkage under the hood but it didn't help. One day I noticed the pin in my shifter handle was working out so I pulled it on out and removed the shifter handle.
I forget exactly how but I could tell the shifter was in wrong. I greased it and put it in correctly and haven't had a problem since. Shifts like brand new now.

I've had my 71 just over a year now. It was random seldom at first. Recently it's happened 3 times in a month. I've never had this column apart. So it's probably dried up and full of space dust. I will take this on tonight