HELP!3-on-the-tree shifter is skrewed up! - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

**passthebuck** · 10-17-2003, 01:49 PM

Hey all - I pulled my truck into the garage to pull of the muffler & pulling it out the shifter broke. It's a 3-on-the-tree & it was always tight when pulling it towards you to put it into either reverse OR first. When i pulled it back this time to go into reverse, something went pop & now it's super loose, & I can feel it go into gear when i move it up or down but it just flops when you push it forward or reverse. It goes into only 2nd or third - no first or reverse. Am I screwed? How do I fix it? 3-on-the-tree shifters baffle me SO PLEASE explain the fix (if any) as easy and simplely as possible! Thank you!

dubie · 10-17-2003, 01:56 PM

I know there is a speing in the knuckle , right below the shift linkage, but not sure if that is what went wrong on yours. Here is where the spring is

tom hand · 10-17-2003, 02:41 PM

The simplest fix is to buy a floor shifter...even the cheapest offbrand parts store job will shift better than a 30 year old 3 on the tree shifter. If you spend a little more money and get a good one, you will never have another problem.

67chevemall · 10-17-2003, 03:09 PM

Sounds like a linkage problem! Follow all your rods on the clutch and tranny and make sure all the clips are in, and the rods are all good. It should be fixable!

Cheers

*Slams_58* · 10-17-2003, 05:52 PM

Gee_Emm has another floor shift for a 3 speed for sale if you're interested. I bought one from Greg a few months back

*67Fleetsidedream* · 10-17-2003, 06:06 PM

Yep you need to check the shift rods and all the linkage. Sound to me that a shift rod may have slipped up. Also check that spring and the collar below that spring is tight. Make sure every thing is tight and hasn't moved.
Should be a easy fix.

pissonNOS · 10-17-2003, 06:09 PM

this happened to me last winter what probly happened is the shifter itself snapped. check where the shifter goes into the column and knock out that rollpin. that will answer the question of whether it was the shifter or linkage. and might I reccomend while ur doing all this take the steering wheel off and take the signal assembly out and grease the coulmn really good and geta ll the linkage greased. Mine was 30+ years old and in the winter would freeze so thats why mine broke.

JHickson6 · 10-17-2003, 06:30 PM

I'd check that spring in the column, when mine was stuck in only first and reverse it was because the spring had broken.

**passthebuck** · 10-17-2003, 10:20 PM

ttt

pissonNOS · 10-18-2003, 01:55 AM

what did u find out passthebuck?

**passthebuck** · 10-18-2003, 10:40 AM

i'm gonna try & drive out the rollpin after work tonight ( i hate workin saturdays) & I'm gonna get some oil to shoot in there & I'll keep ya updated then. Thanx all

*Gee_Emm* · 10-18-2003, 12:24 PM

I have 2 floorshifts and 2 3 speed columns if you need new stuff.

rustyold69 · 10-18-2003, 07:13 PM

that same thing happened to me and it was the end of the shifter that broke off. I got a new shifter handle and sprayed a whole bunch of wd-40 in there and now it works just fine.

**passthebuck** · 10-19-2003, 05:24 PM

OK_so I drove out the rollpin & YUP, the end was broken off of the shifter. I see some grease in there but its all dry SO I hosed tri-flo in there & wow it shifts great. I got a new shifter out of a 64 pontiac & the plastic end is wrong but as a fix, it's a-ok. Thank you guys for the help/tips - I dunno what I'd do without this board!

10-17-2003, 01:49 PM	#1
passthebuck Sisyphus was my mentor! Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Carleton Place, Ontario CANADA Posts: 984	HELP!3-on-the-tree shifter is skrewed up! Hey all - I pulled my truck into the garage to pull of the muffler & pulling it out the shifter broke. It's a 3-on-the-tree & it was always tight when pulling it towards you to put it into either reverse OR first. When i pulled it back this time to go into reverse, something went pop & now it's super loose, & I can feel it go into gear when i move it up or down but it just flops when you push it forward or reverse. It goes into only 2nd or third - no first or reverse. Am I screwed? How do I fix it? 3-on-the-tree shifters baffle me SO PLEASE explain the fix (if any) as easy and simplely as possible! Thank you! __________________ passthebuck #5642 -TWO 1967 GMC 910's. One with L6/3-on-the tree and the other with 355 w/435hp & a 700r4. -a 2013 Honda Civic as my "sensible" car

10-17-2003, 01:56 PM	#2
dubie Registered User Join Date: May 2000 Location: Flin Flon, Manitoba, Canada Posts: 8,855	I know there is a speing in the knuckle , right below the shift linkage, but not sure if that is what went wrong on yours. Here is where the spring is Attached Images __________________ My name's Tim and I'm a truckaholic My 56 Chevy shop truck build http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=562795

10-17-2003, 02:41 PM	#3
tom hand CCRider Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Olive Branch,MS,USA Posts: 2,232	The simplest fix is to buy a floor shifter...even the cheapest offbrand parts store job will shift better than a 30 year old 3 on the tree shifter. If you spend a little more money and get a good one, you will never have another problem. __________________ 72 GMC Sierra SWB almost finished---- 84 Softail Olive Branch MS

10-17-2003, 03:09 PM	#4
67chevemall Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: NB Posts: 3,367	Sounds like a linkage problem! Follow all your rods on the clutch and tranny and make sure all the clips are in, and the rods are all good. It should be fixable! Cheers __________________ 1968 Chevy C10 307 3ott fleetside 1967 Chevy C/10 V8, 3spd, fleetside lwb.Sold 1967 Chev C/10 step, 383, M21. SOLD

10-17-2003, 06:09 PM	#7
pissonNOS senior member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: fort macleod alberta Posts: 2,770	this happened to me last winter what probly happened is the shifter itself snapped. check where the shifter goes into the column and knock out that rollpin. that will answer the question of whether it was the shifter or linkage. and might I reccomend while ur doing all this take the steering wheel off and take the signal assembly out and grease the coulmn really good and geta ll the linkage greased. Mine was 30+ years old and in the winter would freeze so thats why mine broke. __________________ 69 GMC bagged

10-17-2003, 05:52 PM	#5
Slams_58 Account Suspended Join Date: May 2002 Location: I let ya know as soon as I know Posts: 3,593	Gee_Emm has another floor shift for a 3 speed for sale if you're interested. I bought one from Greg a few months back

10-17-2003, 06:06 PM	#6
67Fleetsidedream Wiseass secured himself a BAN Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: MOON!!! Posts: 2,282	Yep you need to check the shift rods and all the linkage. Sound to me that a shift rod may have slipped up. Also check that spring and the collar below that spring is tight. Make sure every thing is tight and hasn't moved. Should be a easy fix.

10-17-2003, 06:30 PM	#8
JHickson6 I Love This Stuff! Join Date: May 2002 Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada Posts: 739	I'd check that spring in the column, when mine was stuck in only first and reverse it was because the spring had broken. __________________ My Rides 1967 C10 In Pieces for now 1985 Ford B700 SourPuss Bus - BIG BLUE 2003 Silverado CITY WORKER YELLOW!!

10-17-2003, 10:20 PM	#9
passthebuck Sisyphus was my mentor! Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Carleton Place, Ontario CANADA Posts: 984	ttt __________________ passthebuck #5642 -TWO 1967 GMC 910's. One with L6/3-on-the tree and the other with 355 w/435hp & a 700r4. -a 2013 Honda Civic as my "sensible" car

10-18-2003, 01:55 AM	#10
pissonNOS senior member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: fort macleod alberta Posts: 2,770	what did u find out passthebuck? __________________ 69 GMC bagged

10-18-2003, 10:40 AM	#11
passthebuck Sisyphus was my mentor! Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Carleton Place, Ontario CANADA Posts: 984	i'm gonna try & drive out the rollpin after work tonight ( i hate workin saturdays) & I'm gonna get some oil to shoot in there & I'll keep ya updated then. Thanx all __________________ passthebuck #5642 -TWO 1967 GMC 910's. One with L6/3-on-the tree and the other with 355 w/435hp & a 700r4. -a 2013 Honda Civic as my "sensible" car

10-18-2003, 12:24 PM	#12
Gee_Emm Account Suspended Join Date: Sep 2000 Posts: 4,002	I have 2 floorshifts and 2 3 speed columns if you need new stuff.

10-18-2003, 07:13 PM	#13
rustyold69 student wrench turner Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: wrightstown, wisconsin Posts: 192	that same thing happened to me and it was the end of the shifter that broke off. I got a new shifter handle and sprayed a whole bunch of wd-40 in there and now it works just fine. __________________ 1969 Chevy C-10 with 250 L6 2002 GMC Sierra 2500 HD Duramax with banks six gun

10-19-2003, 05:24 PM	#14
passthebuck Sisyphus was my mentor! Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Carleton Place, Ontario CANADA Posts: 984	update OK_so I drove out the rollpin & YUP, the end was broken off of the shifter. I see some grease in there but its all dry SO I hosed tri-flo in there & wow it shifts great. I got a new shifter out of a 64 pontiac & the plastic end is wrong but as a fix, it's a-ok. Thank you guys for the help/tips - I dunno what I'd do without this board! __________________ passthebuck #5642 -TWO 1967 GMC 910's. One with L6/3-on-the tree and the other with 355 w/435hp & a 700r4. -a 2013 Honda Civic as my "sensible" car



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