End of the line

[Coffin04]

So here is what i need to know:

What could be causing my shifter to move freely, and keep my engine from engaging with the transmission?

I have a gyromatic in my '50 Coronet if that helps any.

Here's the story if you want to know:

I'm done. if i had the facilities, time, finance, and equipment to handle what this car is sending my way i would gladly take it on.

Driving back from dropping my girlfriend off. Picked up a good charger because I've had to use the hills lately to push start the car and i figured that wasn't such a good thing to have to do continuously. So wanted to just charge the battery while i repaired the harness.

Car died while at a light on a flat strip...the motor won't turn over.

pushed it around an intersection where i've got some downhill action going on and try to push start. The car won't catch the gear. I can shift it. In fact i can shift without the clutch. so now i have a nearly dead battery with an engine that won't engage with the transmission.

Could all the push starting caused this? right now in my mind that's more than likely. Now what exactly is broken or disconnected or whatever? i don't know.

I do know that if it's an issue with the fluid drive, clutch, or transmission, then there's no way i'm getting it fixed in my current situation.

[greg g]

My first step would be to get it to a secure location put a new battery in it and see if it will start. Shiftig a stationary car without the clutch is not unusual. The semi auto is pretty bullet proof, but it does depend on some electrical power to operate correctly, and it could be as simple as the shift linkage being out of ajustment, or having lost s cotter pin allowing it to come adrift.

Was the car and transmission operating properly before this situation?

Go to the Imperial club websit, and look the repai section for the technicians guide to the semi auto trans.

[Dodgeb4ya]

Buy a good battery and start it up.

[Don Coatney]

In the past when you have had to push start this fluid drive car what was the procedure? Did you use another vehicle to push start it or coast down a hill? How fast did you have to push it before it would start? There is no direct connection between your engine and transmission. Think of two opposing fans imersed in a fluid fighting each other. Follow this link for more details.

http://www.allpar.com/mopar/fluidrive.html

One last question, does the charging system in your car work?

[Dodgeb4ya]

You can push start a FD car with the M5/M6. Just need to put it in low range make sure the key is on and get up to 15-20MPH, let the clutch out. It's all stated in the owners manual. It works. I've done it when I was --- still am, a dumb kid.

[Coffin04]

i know, i've done it several times in the past week. what i'm saying is the gears don't seem to be engaging now. i can move the shifter freely into gear with out the clutch and it has no effect. I'm going back to where i left it to see if maybe some linkage broke lose or if giving the battery some juice will help. I'm hoping there's nothing wrong with the fluid drive. But i don't think that would effect the free movement of my shifter. I'm hoping it's linkage.

[Joe Flanagan]

Sure sounds like a linkage problem to me. I second Greg's idea that something might have either come undone or out of adjustment.

[Coffin04]

Got under the car after class today, the linkage to the trani was all intact. Found something else to, i was able to freely shift gears by hand at the transmission. Think it's possible the clutch is frozen open? I noticed that after beating a bit on that clutch lever the clutch linkage pushes against that the shifter locked up a bit, but i was able to wiggle it loose and shift freely again.

[Don Coatney]

I noticed that after beating a bit on that clutch lever

Use of a hammer in this area is not wise. Have a helper push the clutch pedal in and out while you are under the car to see what is moving. Also have this helper shift the gears while you observe the movement of the linkage. Beating on any of this linkage will not fix anything. Leave your hammer in the tool box.

[busycoupe]

In my 48 Dodge with fluid drive, the fluid unit is between the engine and the clutch. Were you shifting without the clutch with the engine not running? If the engine is not running there is very little connection between the engine and transmission. It is possible to shift the transmission without using the clutch because the clutch is not held by the engine. I think that the first thing you need to do is to start the car, then try to clutch and shift.

Dave