Hard shifting

[W.F. Brown- III]

I started out yesterday in my '48 Plymouth and had difficulty shifting into second and third. Not "grinding" or anything like that,just not able to shift (felt like the shifter was in a bind or something). After a few tries, it went in gear and continued. Shifting a couple times later went off well, then out of the blue the same problem.

Any ideas as to what may be going on? I've never had any problems shifting gears. This just started all of a sudden. The fact that now sometimes it works and sometimes not is what is confusing to me.

Thanks.

[Don Coatney]

What have you looked at? Did you inspect the linkage?

[W.F. Brown- III]

What have you looked at? Did you inspect the linkage?

I looked at the linkage as best I could (don't have a way to get under the car). From what I can see from above, everything looks to be "in its place." I was by myself yesterday and today, so I couldn't get anyone to shift while I looked.

My suspicion is something in the linkage is binding, but what and where, I don't know.

[fedoragent]

I looked at the linkage as best I could (don't have a way to get under the car). From what I can see from above, everything looks to be "in its place." I was by myself yesterday and today, so I couldn't get anyone to shift while I looked.

My suspicion is something in the linkage is binding, but what and where, I don't know.

BM,

I had the same problem. Had my clutch adjusted, found out the syncros were worn. Try double clutching...

FG.

[W.F. Brown- III]

BM,

I had the same problem. Had my clutch adjusted, found out the syncros were worn. Try double clutching...

FG.

Don't believe that's the problem with mine. The first thing I tried when it wouldn't shift was double clutching - didn't work. It's not that it won't shift easily or clashing of gears, it physically won't shift into the gear (the shift lever won't move - feels like it's bound up). After two or three tries (and a little cussing) it shifts easy as butter. It may make a dozen or more shifts fine, and then bind up. No rhyme or reason to when it does and doesn't.

[james49ply]

needs lube, oil all the connections, check the bolts on the transmission shift arms, make sure the shaft down the steering column is lubes and free.

[busycoupe]

Are the motor mounts OK? If the motor moves, perhaps from torque, the linkage could bind. When the motor drops back into place the shifting problem disappears. Check the rear motor mounts.

[fedoragent]

Are the motor mounts OK? If the motor moves, perhaps from torque, the linkage could bind. When the motor drops back into place the shifting problem disappears. Check the rear motor mounts.

I'm going to have to replace mine soon too. Does one necessarily have to remove the tranny completely?

My fear is that you say yes...

FG.

[Harvey Tank]

I had something like that on my P20. I disconnected the linkage from the transmision, and still hard to shift. so I took the shifting lever a part from the steering column and found that there is a bushing that has an oil soaked or greas soaked wike to keep the bushing lubed. it was bone dry. hard as a rock. am I discribing this right? any body ever have this problem? anyway I just keept on oiling it untell it was free. been shifting great ever sence.

[W.F. Brown- III]

... so I took the shifting lever a part from the steering column and found that there is a bushing that has an oil soaked or greas soaked wike to keep the bushing lubed ...

Where, exactly, is this located? At the shifting lever itself? Or is it on the motor side of the firewall?

Thanks.

[W.F. Brown- III]

Are the motor mounts OK? If the motor moves, perhaps from torque, the linkage could bind. When the motor drops back into place the shifting problem disappears. Check the rear motor mounts.

I thought of this, too. I believe the motor mounts to be good. Also, the problem can be experienced when motor is running as well as when the car is sitting still with motor off.

[garbagestate 44]

If you pull the floorpan cover off you can pretty much see everything thats going on while you work the shifter. It's a little work especially if you have nice carpeting but it helps to rule out or confirm binding of the linkage.

[W.F. Brown- III]

If you pull the floorpan cover off you can pretty much see everything thats going on while you work the shifter. It's a little work especially if you have nice carpeting but it helps to rule out or confirm binding of the linkage.

Thanks.

[Harvey Tank]

the bushing that gets stiff is @ the steering colume right where the gear shift is attached. right below the sterring whell. there is a couple of screws and pin there that allows you to remove it, and gain access to the bushing. hope this helps.

tothing is worse than a stiff gear shift. maybe an oil leak you cant find or fix.

[ptwothree]

Ditto ruth.........I could hardly move the lever with everything disconnected. Lots of pb blaster and wd40 shot at lever/column and where it passes thru the firewall grommet fixed it......

[W.F. Brown- III]

the bushing that gets stiff is @ the steering colume right where the gear shift is attached. right below the sterring whell. there is a couple of screws and pin there that allows you to remove it, and gain access to the bushing. hope this helps.

tothing is worse than a stiff gear shift. maybe an oil leak you cant find or fix.

Thanks. I'll remove/disassemble the shift lever and give that a try. It can only help, as it sure can't make it any worse.

[W.F. Brown- III]

Giving the shifter lever a bit of oil did the trick. The old car now shifts like a hot knife through butter. Thanks, folks, for all the helpful tips.

One thing, though. I wish someone had warned me about that thin metal strip in the shifting lever mechanism. When I removed the screw and pin and rotated the shift lever to remove it, that thin metal piece pops out and went flying out the open door and into the yard. It took me a while to find it and a while longer to figure out just exactly how/where it went back into place. After it all was over and thew shifter works so good again, it was funny. But, at the time ...

[W.F. Brown- III]

So, did you get a pic of that thin metal strip and where it goes?

No, I didn't take a picture. But, when all else fails, I looked in the book. It's a "washer" that keeps tension on the shifter lever so it doesn't rattle. The book just wasn't real clear exactly where it went in the assembly. Fortunately, upon close inspection, I was able to match up the wear patterns and tell where it went.

[Frank Elder]

Congrats on your troubleshooting adventure:)

[Harvey Tank]

Glad you goter done!!!