Three Speed on the Column

[1978steven]

Well, my three speed on the column broke yesterday. The shifter will shift into reverse and first, but when I go to second and third it doesn't do anything. I checked out all the linkage and all is attached and looks good. I haven't had any problems with the setup until yesterday. My father-in-law has a 1965 Chevy 1/2 ton that has a good three speed on the column he will give me if it will work.

Will the three speed column out of the '65 work in my '71?

[Yukon Jack]

Don't know if the other will work but here is my fix for when I had a three on tree and it was not shifting correctly (ultimate switch was going to a four speed)

If your tranny actually broke then of course this won't help you.

To adjust the three speed you will need some sort of alignment rod, I used a nail cut to the right length. I also used a long board to keep the clutch pedal pressed in while doing the adjustments. The linkage adjustment is made under the hood on the steering column shaft. What you want to do is loosen up the nuts that tighten the guides on the shifting linkage. Get the tranny into neutral, which will have the two guides in line with each other. The guides have a small hole in them and there is also a raised notch on top of the steering column. Lay the nail on the notch and then move the guides until the nail slides through each guide. Then what I did was moved the linkage rods up and down to see how they cycle through the gears and then get back into neutral. Then I tightened the nuts so the guide is secure. Remove the alignment rod, ie the nail, and then cycle the tranny with the shift column in the cab. I had to do a little fine tuning to get the linkage right but it took all of 10 minutes once I figured out what I was doing.

[64fleetside]

You can remove slack between the lower column "ears" by loosening the small bolts in the side of column & rotating the lower ring. Mine was worn where the tits on the ears catch the shifter shaft. I had to weld up the tits on the lower column linkage, the shifter shaft moves back & forth to catch either the 1 & R "ear" or the 2 & 3 "ear". Inspect the tits on these ears at the bottom of the column, have someone move the linkage & you will see how it is sposed to work. I welded them up while in the truck, make sure you ground the "ear" not the column. I used a trusty Lincoln buzzbox set on 75amps, 6013 rod. Just a spot is all it needs. Used a Dremel tool to shape the weld & my column now shifts like new, in fact I may let the wife have a go at driving it now. The 65 column might work but it has a diff mounting setup & blinker setup. Brian

[1978steven]

Could I possibly use the '65 column to rebuild my '71 column shift setup?

[1978steven]

Tranny seems to be fine. I shut the truck off, got underneath, manually put it second, and got in fired her up and let the clutch out. I did the same for third and everything worked good. I'm pretty sure all my problems are in the column.

Originally Posted by Yukon Jack

If your tranny actually broke then of course this won't help you.

[67ChevyRedneck]

I wouldn't try to rebuild the column until I found out exactly why it's not shifting. Yukon_Jack and 64fleetside have some good tips. If something is broken, like one of the ears, look at the ones on the 65 and see if it will work. It's probably something simple that won't require a rebuild. just my $.02

[1978steven]

That's what I mean, not actually rebuilding it but using some parts off the '65 column to fix mine.

[67ChevyRedneck]

I guess find out whats wrong, or not working, pull it off, and see if it is the same on the '65's column? I'm sure there are some differeneces. Maybe copy this post to the 60-66 board. Maybe someone there will know for sure?

[1978steven]

Thanks for the help everyone.

[passthebuck]

same thing happened to me last winter. on the end of the shifter handle (which is retained by a roll pin), the little end broke off that actuates everyting. I hosed triflo down inside the colum to loosen up the frozen grease & I put a new shifterhandle off of a 63 pontiac on. Still works today a-ok. pull your handle off. If there isnt a little ball on the end, it problayy broke off & theres your problem.

[1978steven]

Pulled the shift handel off and it looks like it's all there. It has the little pivot all there. I'll dig more into it this weekend and try to figure it all out.

[1978steven]

Finally got a chance to check it out really good and get it figured out today after work. What happened was the second and third gear linkage arm that connects to the column in the engine compartment had worked its way loose. Very simple fix just tightened up the pivot and arm attach bolt. Works great again.

Thanks for the help everyone lots of good information to pass here as always.