3 speed column shifter stuck when it's cold outside - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

thewrai6th · 01-15-2013, 05:58 PM

Every morning I go out to start my truck; if it's below about 40 degrees, I can barely pull the shifter up between R-1. Feels like I'm going to bend or break the shifter.

I tried hitting the column with WD40, no luck there. Tried lubing it up with good old grease and still no luck.

It seems like the metal is getting cold enough to shrink and bind when it freezes overnight. Is there something I can loosen? Tighten? Lube?

My next step was going to be graphite spray.

64fleetside · 01-15-2013, 06:01 PM

The old grease inside is getting stiff. Only way I know to properly fix it is disassembly of the column, clean out old grease, lube up with fresh stuff.

ubtripn · 01-15-2013, 06:06 PM

My 66 3 on a tree had bushings that I used to lube under the hood on the drivers side that would also bind when going from 1st to 2nd. On my 68 I shot some penetrating lube through where the arm enters the column and it loosened things up. May or may not work.

68gmsee · 01-15-2013, 06:28 PM

There's a long tube that slides up and down the steering column to shift the levers. In the factory it was lathered up with grease which after 40 years dries to a thick sticky substance.

In some cases you can get by spraying the h3ll out of with WD40 or other lubricant/solvent but be sure and protect the floor board and garage floor. In my case I had to take the column off and remove all the old stuff and relube. I had to basically clean out chunks of waxy hard grease.

**cericd** · 01-15-2013, 10:10 PM

Good to see this post. I bought my 70 C10 back when it was warm and when the first cold snap came I took the truck out and not being familiar with a 3-on-the-tree, I thought something was broken. But you summed it up perfectly, it seems like I'm going to bend or break the gear shift lever to go from R to 1st. Looks like I need to clean out the old grease on mine too.

GRX · 01-16-2013, 12:16 AM

x3 three on old column grease. My 3 tree used to do that.

A Hurst floor shift conversion kit solved it quite nicely.

**cericd** · 01-16-2013, 10:10 AM

Hey , thewrai6th I ran across this thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=215307 and it seems to have some good 3OTT info. Check out the 3rd sentence of the original post.

01-15-2013, 05:58 PM	#1
thewrai6th Registered User Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: bay area, CA Posts: 68	3 speed column shifter stuck when it's cold outside Every morning I go out to start my truck; if it's below about 40 degrees, I can barely pull the shifter up between R-1. Feels like I'm going to bend or break the shifter. I tried hitting the column with WD40, no luck there. Tried lubing it up with good old grease and still no luck. It seems like the metal is getting cold enough to shrink and bind when it freezes overnight. Is there something I can loosen? Tighten? Lube? My next step was going to be graphite spray. __________________ 1969 Stepside restoration

01-15-2013, 06:01 PM	#2
64fleetside Registered User Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: arkieland Posts: 1,070	Re: 3 speed column shifter stuck when it's cold outside The old grease inside is getting stiff. Only way I know to properly fix it is disassembly of the column, clean out old grease, lube up with fresh stuff.

01-15-2013, 06:06 PM	#3
ubtripn Registered User Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Boise, ID Posts: 1,280	Re: 3 speed column shifter stuck when it's cold outside My 66 3 on a tree had bushings that I used to lube under the hood on the drivers side that would also bind when going from 1st to 2nd. On my 68 I shot some penetrating lube through where the arm enters the column and it loosened things up. May or may not work.

01-15-2013, 06:28 PM	#4
68gmsee Active Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Centrally located between Houston, Austin and Waco. BCS area. Posts: 7,947	Re: 3 speed column shifter stuck when it's cold outside There's a long tube that slides up and down the steering column to shift the levers. In the factory it was lathered up with grease which after 40 years dries to a thick sticky substance. In some cases you can get by spraying the h3ll out of with WD40 or other lubricant/solvent but be sure and protect the floor board and garage floor. In my case I had to take the column off and remove all the old stuff and relube. I had to basically clean out chunks of waxy hard grease. __________________ 68 GMC 250/3 speed Saginaw p/b p/s 69 Chevy 350/350 currently in pieces still lookin for a cab 06 Trailblazer I just want a vehicle that I can work on, that won't talk to me, leave error msgs or keep track of how I drive...

01-15-2013, 10:10 PM	#5
cericd Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Texan, back in TX Posts: 2,158	Re: 3 speed column shifter stuck when it's cold outside Good to see this post. I bought my 70 C10 back when it was warm and when the first cold snap came I took the truck out and not being familiar with a 3-on-the-tree, I thought something was broken. But you summed it up perfectly, it seems like I'm going to bend or break the gear shift lever to go from R to 1st. Looks like I need to clean out the old grease on mine too.

01-16-2013, 12:16 AM	#6
GRX Registered User Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: MD Posts: 1,937	Re: 3 speed column shifter stuck when it's cold outside x3 three on old column grease. My 3 tree used to do that. A Hurst floor shift conversion kit solved it quite nicely. __________________ 1969 c-10 Step Side Long Bed. I-6 250cid = = 1969 Pontiac GTO hard top. 400, 4-speed.

01-16-2013, 10:10 AM	#7
cericd Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Texan, back in TX Posts: 2,158	Re: 3 speed column shifter stuck when it's cold outside Hey , thewrai6th I ran across this thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=215307 and it seems to have some good 3OTT info. Check out the 3rd sentence of the original post.



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