Broke the doggone shifter - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

jkeady · 11-15-2009, 04:22 AM

My '70 C/20 has a TH350 and I've noticed the shift action has been a lot tougher lately. Not moving through the gear range, that's fine, but pulling back the shifter to move between gears has been getting harder. The last time I drove the truck, it was very difficult, and then today... well, something broke.

I yanked back on the shifter, and at the point where I was putting a lot of stress on it, something gave way in the column, and the shift lever just swung all the way forward and hit the steering wheel. Now it just swings free and obviously it's no longer attached to anything in the column.

Tomorrow (Sunday) morning I'm going to go out and pull the steering wheel and see what I can see in there, but before I do: why was it getting so hard to pull back on the shift lever? I've eyeballed the steering column and shift linkage a few times but can't see exactly what is happening when you pull back on the lever.

Someone care to explain how the whole shebang works? The lockout that keeps the shifter from moving unless pulled back: is that all in the column? Easily accessed?

Thanks in advance folks,

Josh

*2tons of fun* · 11-15-2009, 04:56 AM

they stick, a little wd40 or such shot down the hole frees them up.

OhioDan · 11-15-2009, 05:04 AM

Not sure what's wrong, but these might help?

JimKshortstep4x4 · 11-15-2009, 08:48 AM

Sounds like you broke the little ball off of the end of the shifter handle.

Before you pull the steering wheel, knock the drive pin out that holds the shift lever in place. The lever can be removed and you can look inside the opening as well as look at the shifter handle.

If the ball is broken on the end then replacing the handle can be done. Spraying the shift tube with a penetrant through the shift lever hole will help free it up. Also, spray the lower end of the shift tube with penetrant as it slides there when you pull back on the lever.

Jim

68gmsee · 11-15-2009, 09:32 AM

I agree that it may be the end of the shifter ball.

And, after you find the problem and fix it, you could try spraying some penetrating oil or other type of lubricant in the steering shaft column. Probably broke because of old sticky grease inside. I had to pull mine out to get rid of the old caked up grease and relube it.

70Custom10Nut · 11-15-2009, 09:33 AM

I had this same issue. The shift tube gets all gummed up with 40 years worth of dust and kinda locks things up. As JimK said before, it sounds like you broke the pivot ball off the end of your shift lever. I didn't break mine, but it was bent when I pulled the column to put in a tilt unit. Make sure you get the broke off piece out before you try to put the new lever on and then PATIENTLY lube and loosen the mech. Good luck. Cnut

Longhorn Man · 11-15-2009, 10:45 AM

honestly, i would look for a tilt... van ot truck, either one. It's a better shifter tube design and you won't have this shifter problem.
Plus you get a tilt

jkeady · 11-15-2009, 04:40 PM

Thanks folks, I pulled it apart this morning and the shift lever ball is indeed what snapped. Really wasn't that difficult to disassemble / reassemble. Now to find a new lever or a new column, we'll see how it goes.

Thanks again,

Josh

57larry · 11-15-2009, 04:43 PM

I'd go for the tilt

11-15-2009, 04:22 AM	#1
jkeady Registered User Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Salem, OR Posts: 127	Broke the doggone shifter My '70 C/20 has a TH350 and I've noticed the shift action has been a lot tougher lately. Not moving through the gear range, that's fine, but pulling back the shifter to move between gears has been getting harder. The last time I drove the truck, it was very difficult, and then today... well, something broke. I yanked back on the shifter, and at the point where I was putting a lot of stress on it, something gave way in the column, and the shift lever just swung all the way forward and hit the steering wheel. Now it just swings free and obviously it's no longer attached to anything in the column. Tomorrow (Sunday) morning I'm going to go out and pull the steering wheel and see what I can see in there, but before I do: why was it getting so hard to pull back on the shift lever? I've eyeballed the steering column and shift linkage a few times but can't see exactly what is happening when you pull back on the lever. Someone care to explain how the whole shebang works? The lockout that keeps the shifter from moving unless pulled back: is that all in the column? Easily accessed? Thanks in advance folks, Josh __________________ Josh '70 Custom Camper / 20

11-15-2009, 04:56 AM	#2
2tons of fun Account Suspended Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: galt ca, Posts: 749	Re: Broke the doggone shifter they stick, a little wd40 or such shot down the hole frees them up.

11-15-2009, 05:04 AM	#3
OhioDan Registered User Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: New Carlisle, Ohio,USA Posts: 1,404	Re: Broke the doggone shifter Not sure what's wrong, but these might help? Attached Images __________________ LIFE AIN'T EASY WHEN YER FAT AND GREASY! GMC= Got More Class! 1970 GMC LWB, Fleetside, 350/4spd, Flowmaster "40's", 2002 GMC 16" Rallies, cowl hood,and added a bunch of options that weren't there when I started.

11-15-2009, 08:48 AM	#4
JimKshortstep4x4 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Muskegon,MI,USA Posts: 6,026	Re: Broke the doggone shifter Sounds like you broke the little ball off of the end of the shifter handle. Before you pull the steering wheel, knock the drive pin out that holds the shift lever in place. The lever can be removed and you can look inside the opening as well as look at the shifter handle. If the ball is broken on the end then replacing the handle can be done. Spraying the shift tube with a penetrant through the shift lever hole will help free it up. Also, spray the lower end of the shift tube with penetrant as it slides there when you pull back on the lever. Jim __________________ 1971 Shortbox step side 4x4, 350 sbc, 3:07 rear end 1965 Impala SS 400 sbc, Muncie rock crusher 1966 Impala SS 396 bbc, TH 400 1969 El Camino, 350 sbc, TH 350 1971 Snowplow built on a Blazer frame 1972 GMC Short bed, stepside, TH 400, 427 BBC

11-15-2009, 09:32 AM	#5
68gmsee Active Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Centrally located between Houston, Austin and Waco. BCS area. Posts: 7,947	Re: Broke the doggone shifter I agree that it may be the end of the shifter ball. And, after you find the problem and fix it, you could try spraying some penetrating oil or other type of lubricant in the steering shaft column. Probably broke because of old sticky grease inside. I had to pull mine out to get rid of the old caked up grease and relube it.

11-15-2009, 09:33 AM	#6
70Custom10Nut Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Vilseck Germany (currently) Posts: 317	Re: Broke the doggone shifter I had this same issue. The shift tube gets all gummed up with 40 years worth of dust and kinda locks things up. As JimK said before, it sounds like you broke the pivot ball off the end of your shift lever. I didn't break mine, but it was bent when I pulled the column to put in a tilt unit. Make sure you get the broke off piece out before you try to put the new lever on and then PATIENTLY lube and loosen the mech. Good luck. Cnut

11-15-2009, 10:45 AM	#7
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,690	Re: Broke the doggone shifter honestly, i would look for a tilt... van ot truck, either one. It's a better shifter tube design and you won't have this shifter problem. Plus you get a tilt

11-15-2009, 04:40 PM	#8
jkeady Registered User Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Salem, OR Posts: 127	Re: Broke the doggone shifter Thanks folks, I pulled it apart this morning and the shift lever ball is indeed what snapped. Really wasn't that difficult to disassemble / reassemble. Now to find a new lever or a new column, we'll see how it goes. Thanks again, Josh __________________ Josh '70 Custom Camper / 20

11-15-2009, 04:43 PM	#9
57larry Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 1,161	Re: Broke the doggone shifter I'd go for the tilt



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