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#1 |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 299
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Shifter hard to pull back when cold
I've been having this issue lately...in the mornings the shift lever is difficult to pull back to shift into Park. I'm afraid I'm going to break it off. After the temperature outside is higher it's a breeze.
Is there a bushing or something somewhere I can lube or check? Oh yeah...turbo 350 column shifter in a 72 GMC...bone stock. Thanks
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1972 GMC Sierra LWB (Aquafresh) 1962 Cadillac Convertible 1962 Cadillac Sedan project |
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#2 |
Member #1049
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Troy Montana
Posts: 3,940
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Re: Shifter hard to pull back when cold
squirt some lube down the shifter handle where it goes into the column and start working it by pulling it towards you, that should cure your problem
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#3 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Fall River California
Posts: 2,026
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Re: Shifter hard to pull back when cold
I had the same problem with mine, I tried spraying lube into the column but it didn't help much and it would start to stick again in about a week. I finall decided to simply pulled the steering wheel and pulled the turn signal assembly out and then slid the shift mech out. It was full of old grease and dirt so I cleaned it all up and put a thin layer of grease over all the moving surfaces and now it workems perfect, the lever now moves very smoothly even when its below zero.
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#4 |
Active Member
![]() Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Centrally located between Houston, Austin and Waco. BCS area.
Posts: 7,947
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Re: Shifter hard to pull back when cold
This is a problem with a lot of these old trucks. Mine had that problem many years ago and I actually had to take the whole column off. It had hard caked up chunks of old grease in there.
See if you can get by with the spraying lube down the tube first. Keep working it up and down as you continue. If you have good carpeting you might want to protect that first. Don't forget the garage or driveway concrete. Last resort is to remove it and flush it or take it apart. |
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#5 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: San Diego Co.
Posts: 1,162
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Re: Shifter hard to pull back when cold
Sounds like most of you were more fortunate than me. Mine did break. Right at the very tip where the lever engages the shaft. But I was able to get away with just shooting some lube down in there. Once the lever was replaced, it has worked fine for many years.
Bottom line though, don't push this one (like I did) because they WILL break. |
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#6 |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 299
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Re: Shifter hard to pull back when cold
Thanks all, guess I know what I'm doing tonight! Wish I had known this when I had the steering wheel off last week trying to fix my horn.
__________________
1972 GMC Sierra LWB (Aquafresh) 1962 Cadillac Convertible 1962 Cadillac Sedan project |
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#7 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Fall River California
Posts: 2,026
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Re: Shifter hard to pull back when cold
Quote:
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#8 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Townsend MT
Posts: 1,725
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Re: Shifter hard to pull back when cold
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#9 |
I am a Referee of life.
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Greensboro N.C.
Posts: 13,993
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Re: Shifter hard to pull back when cold
If you're gonna squirt lube into it,you may want to squirt a little WD40 in there first and try to loosen/wash out some of the hardened lube that's in there.
__________________
The 47-present Chevrolet and GMC Truck Message Board Network,it's owners,moderators,members,and associates of any type should not be held responsible for my opinion. You can't fix stupid,not even with duct tape. "My appearance is due to the fact that "GOD" does punish you for having too much fun!" Barrett-Jackson has perfected alchemy,they make rust into gold! "You can lead a horse to water but you can't saddle a duck" "Cleverly disguised as a 'Responsible Adult' "Sometimes your Knight in shining armor is just a retard in tinfoil" |
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#10 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: South Carolina
Posts: 2,662
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Re: Shifter hard to pull back when cold
My shifter was nearly impossible to pull back. It almost felt as though it was hydraulic(y) dampened. Took the wheel off(without a puller)drilled deeper into the column by removing the turnsignal gear. Not much in the way of chunks of grease but there was old grease none the less. I made a concoction of three parts odorless mineral spirits to one part synthetic motor oil as a lube/cleaner. Works great in this application and also as a chain lube for my bicycle.
Having a syringe with a dull needle(like the inkjet refill syringe)works wonders as a precise luber. Last edited by twouvakind; 12-31-2011 at 09:45 AM. Reason: add info |
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#11 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: daytonabeach
Posts: 22,956
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Re: Shifter hard to pull back when cold
it is amazin how 40year old moving parts respond to cleaning and lubrication every few decades
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71c-10 350/2004r/4:11 lowered3/4 longbed/dead by hurricane MEANING OF DEATH::::: SOMEBODY ELSE GETS YOUR STUFF DONT BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU THINK TAKE MY ADVISE;I DON'T USE IT ANYWAY |
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