Shift linkage/column question - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

**kev2809** · 06-25-2012, 11:21 PM

i finally got my column back in a month or 2 ago, and also got my motor and trans in about a month ago. well im finishing up the wiring and linkage and what not, and i cant get this figured out.

trans is a turbo 400, all the shift linkage and this trans came with my truck when i got it. column is original. when i try to shift it, it doesnt budge. ive tried it with the key in "ON" position, even with brake pressed..nothing. the shifter lever wiggles a little to the left, but nothing to the right. indicator shows N, but can wiggle over left to R. trans is definitely in N, i moved the rod by hand (confirmed this by moving the truck back and forth to make sure its in N). im thinking this "thing" on the column under the hood is not right.

also, when i move the blinker lever, the whole case on the column moves along with it. why would this be..?

**kev2809** · 06-26-2012, 12:27 PM

any ideas what would cause these problems?
Posted via Mobile Device

geezer#99 · 06-26-2012, 03:02 PM

I think you're missing the cupped washer on your linkage bolt. Here's a pic on this post of what you need.
Not sure about your turn signal prob though.
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...+shift+linkage

**kev2809** · 06-26-2012, 03:46 PM

i was wondering why it wouldnt tighten against the rod. thanks...

anyone know why the shifter wont budge?
Posted via Mobile Device

**kev2809** · 06-27-2012, 09:31 PM

heres a question...in the second pic i posted, is that supposed to be in that position while in Neutral?

or is that irrelevant?

**LockDoc** · 06-27-2012, 11:50 PM

-
Before you try the following spray some PB Blaster, Liquid Wrench, or something similar (not WD-40) into the steering column, where the shift lever goes in. After you spray it pull the shift lever up toward you and push it back down. 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 the park position. That may be all you have to do to get your park position back. If that doesn't solve the problem go to step 2... below.

After you have done that try loosening the adjustment bolt at the top of the rod that connects the transmission and the shifter arm on the steering column, crawl under the truck and manually shift the transmission into Park. Hold it in Park while someone puts the shift lever in the park position up above, then tighten the adjuster bolt back up. This should correct your problem.

Be sure and block a wheel before you start this.

Ignition on and brake pedal depressed has no effect on shifting these trucks.

LockDoc

JORGIE95961 · 06-28-2012, 04:19 PM

cupped washer is mising

**kev2809** · 06-28-2012, 10:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LockDoc

-
Before you try the following spray some PB Blaster, Liquid Wrench, or something similar (not WD-40) into the steering column, where the shift lever goes in. After you spray it pull the shift lever up toward you and push it back down. 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 the park position. That may be all you have to do to get your park position back. If that doesn't solve the problem go to step 2... below.

After you have done that try loosening the adjustment bolt at the top of the rod that connects the transmission and the shifter arm on the steering column, crawl under the truck and manually shift the transmission into Park. Hold it in Park while someone puts the shift lever in the park position up above, then tighten the adjuster bolt back up. This should correct your problem.

Be sure and block a wheel before you start this.

Ignition on and brake pedal depressed has no effect on shifting these trucks.

LockDoc

thanks, im gonna have to try that over the weekend. could that be the reason why the "gear" on the tube of the column under the hood wont move over notches?

Quote:

Originally Posted by JORGIE95961

cupped washer is mising

thanks. i actually have one of those on the way.

but even with the shift rod disconnected, i still cant move the shift lever. im hoping the pb blaster will work

**LockDoc** · 06-28-2012, 11:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kev2809

thanks, im gonna have to try that over the weekend. could that be the reason why the "gear" on the tube of the column under the hood wont move over notches?

Yes, that is probably the reason. The shifter knob should move toward the dash and back toward the wheel at least a couple of inches. You may have to spray it a couple of times and it wouldn't hurt to spray the lower part at the bottom of the tube (the "gear" area) also.

thanks. i actually have one of those on the way.

but even with the shift rod disconnected, i still cant move the shift lever. im hoping the pb blaster will work

LockDoc

**kev2809** · 07-01-2012, 10:14 PM

i sprayed some in the hole where the shift lever is and the gear on the column but im not having any luck. i think i will try to pull the steering wheel this week and try to spray some in there...

i got my linkage bolt in today but no time to put it on, wouldnt make a difference since i cant get it to move anyways.

on the second pic i posted, which part actually moves when you pull the shift lever towards you...the "gears" on the column, or the one "gear" that holds the shift rod?

im wondering if i put this thing back together wrong.....? i can see the shaft inside try to "compress" a little when i pull on the shift lever, but barely compresses, nowhere near a few inches.

**LockDoc** · 07-02-2012, 09:20 PM

-
I re-posted your pictures. The arrows are kind of hard to see but the arm that the arrow is pointing to in the first picture is supposed to move down toward the end of the column when you pull the shifter toward the steering wheel. In the second picture the two parts are supposed to separate where the arrow is pointing. Have someone pull up on the shifter while you insert a screwdriver between the two parts and gently pry the arm downward at this point.

LockDoc

**kev2809** · 07-02-2012, 10:22 PM

ok..i see how they work.

well i had my wife pull the lever towards her, i tried prying it apart and actually got it to move out of park, but it got really stiff. and still wouldnt move on its own without prying it.

could the spring on the bottom of the column tube be too tight, not allowing it to move?

**LockDoc** · 07-03-2012, 12:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kev2809

ok..i see how they work.

well i had my wife pull the lever towards her, i tried prying it apart and actually got it to move out of park, but it got really stiff. and still wouldnt move on its own without prying it.

could the spring on the bottom of the column tube be too tight, not allowing it to move?

As far as I know the only thing the spring does is pre-load the lower bearing. When you get the arm pried down spray the crap out of everything top and bottom again and pry it up and down until it loosens up. If that doesn't work, the only other thing I know is to take the column apart and clean everything up good.

LockDoc

**kev2809** · 07-03-2012, 06:05 AM

sounds like a plan. i will pull the steering wheel today after work to really get in there, and spray the bottom again. we'll see what happens....thanks!

**LockDoc** · 07-03-2012, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kev2809

sounds like a plan. i will pull the steering wheel today after work to really get in there, and spray the bottom again. we'll see what happens....thanks!

No problem.

Sounds good. Let us know what happens...

LockDoc

**kev2809** · 07-03-2012, 09:32 PM

well, i guess i found some relief...i tried the blaster again and still nothing. so i unbolted the top collar (the bolt on the right in the last pic you posted, under the arrow)...it let the lever move freely side to side. so then i unbolted the bottom collar (bolt on the left in the picture above), and it let me fully engage the shift lever toward me and move it around. so im thinking im going to bolt the top collar back on (this one holds the "gears" in place), and i will try to adjust the bottom collar. it bolts to the lower bearing, and i think it should be adjustable, or at least it looks like it.

**LockDoc** · 07-03-2012, 09:46 PM

-
Glad to hear you had some success on this. Thanks for posting back, this will help others that may have the same problem....

LockDoc

**kev2809** · 07-03-2012, 09:54 PM

ya, its a weird issue. it was like this when i got it, because i remember i had to manually shift it in to neutral when i first started moving it around, and really just left it there.

i just bolted the top collar back on, and it obviously got stiffer, but i noticed when i pull the lever toward me to shift, the lower bearing (that the bottom collar bolts to) compresses down and wont allow the collar to bolt to..the holes go under the column tube...if that makes any sense. hmm, ima squirt some more blaster into that bearing and see if it frees up. im guessing something needs to be replaced somewhere, it just seems like its too much binding to me..

**kev2809** · 07-11-2012, 04:10 PM

update..

decided just to pull the damn column back out. im thinking the culprit is the lower bearing, to me it just seemed like it was binding up in there. heres what it looks like..

looks to me like its missing the whole bearings...

**LockDoc** · 07-11-2012, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kev2809

update..

decided just to pull the damn column back out. im thinking the culprit is the lower bearing, to me it just seemed like it was binding up in there. heres what it looks like..

looks to me like its missing the whole bearings...

I agree. Looks like the bearing is gone.

LockDoc

**kev2809** · 07-11-2012, 04:43 PM

you think the bearing would cause it not to depress like it should? only thing i can see thats holding this up...

also, the way im holding the plastic bushing and retainer, is how i had it bolted up. is that correct?

**LockDoc** · 07-11-2012, 11:44 PM

-
The bearing would be down. I can't say for sure what it would do if the bearing was missing...

LockDoc

**kev2809** · 09-16-2012, 09:12 PM

still at this thing..

anyone have a picture of how this is put together? im trying to figure the order of the shaft, spring, lower bearing..etc. Its a 67 column..auto trans with shifter on the column

**Boog** · 09-16-2012, 11:22 PM

I agree the lower bearing is a gonner but that doesn't have anything to do with your non shifting issue. If you will unbolt the trans linkage at the shift arm in your first pic I bet the shifter will move freely. The way the linkage is bolted up it cannot move. It cannot be bolted up solid there. It has to be free to turn as the arm moves up and down. There should be a grommet in there also. I found a pic of the linkage at the lower end to compare to yours.

**kev2809** · 09-19-2012, 06:53 PM

ok..i got the right bolt for the shift rod to connect to. once i get it back in, ill bolt that on to make sure its working.

im getting this back in and i noticed 2 problems im having...

1 is that i noticed in an exploded diagram view of the column, i dont have #39 and #40 in the diagram. did all columns have these? both columns i have didnt have it, and they both seemed like they were never taken apart.

2. is im wondering how the lower half goes just about the spring on the shaft. i have this rubber spacer that when i took it off, it went behind the bearing housing in the shift tube..like this..

and this is the spacer...

but i dont see it in the exploded view...or is it #15?

06-26-2012, 12:27 PM	#2
kev2809 low n' slo Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: rosenberg, texas Posts: 5,166	Re: Shift linkage/column question any ideas what would cause these problems? Posted via Mobile Device __________________ 67 1/2 ton Suburban - Project DRGNWGN. Build thread -_--_--_ _________ _--_-_ -/____\|__\|__\__ ,.,,,.,.,,.,\|_O _______ O_]

06-27-2012, 09:31 PM	#5
kev2809 low n' slo Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: rosenberg, texas Posts: 5,166	Re: Shift linkage/column question heres a question...in the second pic i posted, is that supposed to be in that position while in Neutral? or is that irrelevant? __________________ 67 1/2 ton Suburban - Project DRGNWGN. Build thread -_--_--_ _________ _--_-_ -/____\|__\|__\__ ,.,,,.,.,,.,\|_O _______ O_]

06-27-2012, 11:50 PM	#6
LockDoc The Older Generation Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Montezuma, Iowa Posts: 25,497	Re: Shift linkage/column question - Before you try the following spray some PB Blaster, Liquid Wrench, or something similar (not WD-40) into the steering column, where the shift lever goes in. After you spray it pull the shift lever up toward you and push it back down. 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 the park position. That may be all you have to do to get your park position back. If that doesn't solve the problem go to step 2... below. After you have done that try loosening the adjustment bolt at the top of the rod that connects the transmission and the shifter arm on the steering column, crawl under the truck and manually shift the transmission into Park. Hold it in Park while someone puts the shift lever in the park position up above, then tighten the adjuster bolt back up. This should correct your problem. Be sure and block a wheel before you start this. Ignition on and brake pedal depressed has no effect on shifting these trucks. LockDoc __________________ Leon Locksmith, Specializing In Antique Trucks, Automobiles, & Motorcycles (My Dually Pickup Project Thread) http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=829820 -

06-28-2012, 04:19 PM	#7
JORGIE95961 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: OLIVEHURST CA Posts: 570	Re: Shift linkage/column question cupped washer is mising

07-01-2012, 10:14 PM	#10
kev2809 low n' slo Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: rosenberg, texas Posts: 5,166	Re: Shift linkage/column question i sprayed some in the hole where the shift lever is and the gear on the column but im not having any luck. i think i will try to pull the steering wheel this week and try to spray some in there... i got my linkage bolt in today but no time to put it on, wouldnt make a difference since i cant get it to move anyways. on the second pic i posted, which part actually moves when you pull the shift lever towards you...the "gears" on the column, or the one "gear" that holds the shift rod? im wondering if i put this thing back together wrong.....? i can see the shaft inside try to "compress" a little when i pull on the shift lever, but barely compresses, nowhere near a few inches. __________________ 67 1/2 ton Suburban - Project DRGNWGN. Build thread -_--_--_ _________ _--_-_ -/____\|__\|__\__ ,.,,,.,.,,.,\|_O _______ O_]

06-25-2012, 11:21 PM	#1
kev2809 low n' slo Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: rosenberg, texas Posts: 5,166	Shift linkage/column question i finally got my column back in a month or 2 ago, and also got my motor and trans in about a month ago. well im finishing up the wiring and linkage and what not, and i cant get this figured out. trans is a turbo 400, all the shift linkage and this trans came with my truck when i got it. column is original. when i try to shift it, it doesnt budge. ive tried it with the key in "ON" position, even with brake pressed..nothing. the shifter lever wiggles a little to the left, but nothing to the right. indicator shows N, but can wiggle over left to R. trans is definitely in N, i moved the rod by hand (confirmed this by moving the truck back and forth to make sure its in N). im thinking this "thing" on the column under the hood is not right. also, when i move the blinker lever, the whole case on the column moves along with it. why would this be..? __________________ 67 1/2 ton Suburban - Project DRGNWGN. Build thread -_--_--_ _________ _--_-_ -/____\|__\|__\__ ,.,,,.,.,,.,\|_O _______ O_]

06-26-2012, 03:02 PM	#3
geezer#99 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Bowser Posts: 13,622	Re: Shift linkage/column question I think you're missing the cupped washer on your linkage bolt. Here's a pic on this post of what you need. Not sure about your turn signal prob though. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...+shift+linkage

06-26-2012, 03:46 PM	#4
kev2809 low n' slo Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: rosenberg, texas Posts: 5,166	Re: Shift linkage/column question i was wondering why it wouldnt tighten against the rod. thanks... anyone know why the shifter wont budge? Posted via Mobile Device __________________ 67 1/2 ton Suburban - Project DRGNWGN. Build thread -_--_--_ _________ _--_-_ -/____\|__\|__\__ ,.,,,.,.,,.,\|_O _______ O_]

07-02-2012, 09:20 PM	#11
LockDoc The Older Generation Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Montezuma, Iowa Posts: 25,497	Re: Shift linkage/column question - I re-posted your pictures. The arrows are kind of hard to see but the arm that the arrow is pointing to in the first picture is supposed to move down toward the end of the column when you pull the shifter toward the steering wheel. In the second picture the two parts are supposed to separate where the arrow is pointing. Have someone pull up on the shifter while you insert a screwdriver between the two parts and gently pry the arm downward at this point. LockDoc Attached Images __________________ Leon Locksmith, Specializing In Antique Trucks, Automobiles, & Motorcycles (My Dually Pickup Project Thread) http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=829820 - Last edited by LockDoc; 07-02-2012 at 09:28 PM.

07-02-2012, 10:22 PM	#12
kev2809 low n' slo Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: rosenberg, texas Posts: 5,166	Re: Shift linkage/column question ok..i see how they work. well i had my wife pull the lever towards her, i tried prying it apart and actually got it to move out of park, but it got really stiff. and still wouldnt move on its own without prying it. could the spring on the bottom of the column tube be too tight, not allowing it to move? __________________ 67 1/2 ton Suburban - Project DRGNWGN. Build thread -_--_--_ _________ _--_-_ -/____\|__\|__\__ ,.,,,.,.,,.,\|_O _______ O_]

07-03-2012, 06:05 AM	#14
kev2809 low n' slo Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: rosenberg, texas Posts: 5,166	Re: Shift linkage/column question sounds like a plan. i will pull the steering wheel today after work to really get in there, and spray the bottom again. we'll see what happens....thanks! __________________ 67 1/2 ton Suburban - Project DRGNWGN. Build thread -_--_--_ _________ _--_-_ -/____\|__\|__\__ ,.,,,.,.,,.,\|_O _______ O_]

07-03-2012, 09:32 PM	#16
kev2809 low n' slo Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: rosenberg, texas Posts: 5,166	Re: Shift linkage/column question well, i guess i found some relief...i tried the blaster again and still nothing. so i unbolted the top collar (the bolt on the right in the last pic you posted, under the arrow)...it let the lever move freely side to side. so then i unbolted the bottom collar (bolt on the left in the picture above), and it let me fully engage the shift lever toward me and move it around. so im thinking im going to bolt the top collar back on (this one holds the "gears" in place), and i will try to adjust the bottom collar. it bolts to the lower bearing, and i think it should be adjustable, or at least it looks like it. __________________ 67 1/2 ton Suburban - Project DRGNWGN. Build thread -_--_--_ _________ _--_-_ -/____\|__\|__\__ ,.,,,.,.,,.,\|_O _______ O_]

07-03-2012, 09:46 PM	#17
LockDoc The Older Generation Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Montezuma, Iowa Posts: 25,497	Re: Shift linkage/column question - Glad to hear you had some success on this. Thanks for posting back, this will help others that may have the same problem.... LockDoc __________________ Leon Locksmith, Specializing In Antique Trucks, Automobiles, & Motorcycles (My Dually Pickup Project Thread) http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=829820 -

07-03-2012, 09:54 PM	#18
kev2809 low n' slo Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: rosenberg, texas Posts: 5,166	Re: Shift linkage/column question ya, its a weird issue. it was like this when i got it, because i remember i had to manually shift it in to neutral when i first started moving it around, and really just left it there. i just bolted the top collar back on, and it obviously got stiffer, but i noticed when i pull the lever toward me to shift, the lower bearing (that the bottom collar bolts to) compresses down and wont allow the collar to bolt to..the holes go under the column tube...if that makes any sense. hmm, ima squirt some more blaster into that bearing and see if it frees up. im guessing something needs to be replaced somewhere, it just seems like its too much binding to me.. __________________ 67 1/2 ton Suburban - Project DRGNWGN. Build thread -_--_--_ _________ _--_-_ -/____\|__\|__\__ ,.,,,.,.,,.,\|_O _______ O_]

07-11-2012, 04:10 PM	#19
kev2809 low n' slo Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: rosenberg, texas Posts: 5,166	Re: Shift linkage/column question update.. decided just to pull the damn column back out. im thinking the culprit is the lower bearing, to me it just seemed like it was binding up in there. heres what it looks like.. looks to me like its missing the whole bearings... __________________ 67 1/2 ton Suburban - Project DRGNWGN. Build thread -_--_--_ _________ _--_-_ -/____\|__\|__\__ ,.,,,.,.,,.,\|_O _______ O_]



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07-11-2012, 04:43 PM	#21
kev2809 low n' slo Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: rosenberg, texas Posts: 5,166	Re: Shift linkage/column question you think the bearing would cause it not to depress like it should? only thing i can see thats holding this up... also, the way im holding the plastic bushing and retainer, is how i had it bolted up. is that correct? __________________ 67 1/2 ton Suburban - Project DRGNWGN. Build thread -_--_--_ _________ _--_-_ -/____\|__\|__\__ ,.,,,.,.,,.,\|_O _______ O_]

07-11-2012, 11:44 PM	#22
LockDoc The Older Generation Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Montezuma, Iowa Posts: 25,497	Re: Shift linkage/column question - The bearing would be down. I can't say for sure what it would do if the bearing was missing... LockDoc __________________ Leon Locksmith, Specializing In Antique Trucks, Automobiles, & Motorcycles (My Dually Pickup Project Thread) http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=829820 -

09-16-2012, 09:12 PM	#23
kev2809 low n' slo Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: rosenberg, texas Posts: 5,166	Re: Shift linkage/column question still at this thing.. anyone have a picture of how this is put together? im trying to figure the order of the shaft, spring, lower bearing..etc. Its a 67 column..auto trans with shifter on the column __________________ 67 1/2 ton Suburban - Project DRGNWGN. Build thread -_--_--_ _________ _--_-_ -/____\|__\|__\__ ,.,,,.,.,,.,\|_O _______ O_]

09-16-2012, 11:22 PM	#24
Boog laying low Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Searcy, Ark. USA Posts: 13,252	Re: Shift linkage/column question I agree the lower bearing is a gonner but that doesn't have anything to do with your non shifting issue. If you will unbolt the trans linkage at the shift arm in your first pic I bet the shifter will move freely. The way the linkage is bolted up it cannot move. It cannot be bolted up solid there. It has to be free to turn as the arm moves up and down. There should be a grommet in there also. I found a pic of the linkage at the lower end to compare to yours. Attached Images __________________ Boog 69 Chevy stepside, 358/T350, 4.11 posi, 4.5/4 drop, rallys, poboy driver primer is finer 91 Chevy sportside, Tahoe, Yukon & GMC Crewcab All GM..'nuff said. I stand for the flag and kneel at the cross

09-19-2012, 06:53 PM	#25
kev2809 low n' slo Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: rosenberg, texas Posts: 5,166	Re: Shift linkage/column question ok..i got the right bolt for the shift rod to connect to. once i get it back in, ill bolt that on to make sure its working. im getting this back in and i noticed 2 problems im having... 1 is that i noticed in an exploded diagram view of the column, i dont have #39 and #40 in the diagram. did all columns have these? both columns i have didnt have it, and they both seemed like they were never taken apart. 2. is im wondering how the lower half goes just about the spring on the shaft. i have this rubber spacer that when i took it off, it went behind the bearing housing in the shift tube..like this.. and this is the spacer... but i dont see it in the exploded view...or is it #15? __________________ 67 1/2 ton Suburban - Project DRGNWGN. Build thread -_--_--_ _________ _--_-_ -/____\|__\|__\__ ,.,,,.,.,,.,\|_O _______ O_]

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