Stuck in second gear

[Jim Yergin]

In my never ending struggle to get my overdrive to work, I removed the transmission yet again and dissassembled it. I think I finally got the lock out rod and the lock pin properly oriented, at least they seemed to work on the bench. However when I put the transmission back in the car and took it for a test drive I couldn't check the overdrive because I apparently didn't correctly re-connect the electrical controls. I drove the car into town and made several stops and starts. On the way home the transmission locked up into second gear and cannot be shifted into any other gear or into neutral. Tonight I disconnected the shift linkage but still could not get it out of second gear. I took the side shift plate off with the hope that the problem was that the second/third shift fork had come loose from the shift rod. However that is not the case. It just will not shift out of second. I am going to remove the transmission from the car and take out the shift forks and shift rods and get a better look. Does anyone have any suggestions on what to look for?

Jim Yergin

[Plymouthy Adams]

check your linkage at the lower end of the column to ensure there is no binding/interlocking there..not an uncommon problem for column shift vehicles

[Don Coatney]

You might give George Asche a call. He not only knows overdrive transmissions but he also knows how the linkage is supposed to work. He is the only guy I know who converted a floor shift car to a column shifter.

[Joe Flanagan]

That looks like the inside of the Mercury capsule. Except for the Patsy Cline CD, of course.

[Plymouthy Adams]

he has to be a Shriner..no one, I mean no one can mess a dash up that bad otherwise..

[Jim Yergin]

check your linkage at the lower end of the column to ensure there is no binding/interlocking there..not an uncommon problem for column shift vehicles

Tim,

Thanks for the suggestion but I have disconnected the linkage and still can't get it out of second gear.

I will pull the transmission and take a look and report what I find.

Jim Yergin

[Jim Yergin]

You might give George Asche a call. He not only knows overdrive transmissions but he also knows how the linkage is supposed to work. He is the only guy I know who converted a floor shift car to a column shifter.

Thanks Don but it is not a linkage problem, the problem is inside the transmission.

Jim Yergin

[suntennis]

My first thought is that when you installed the shift plate on the side of the transmission, the fork on the shift plate was not placed in the opening in the syncromesh but to one side of it. By doing this, it would only move the syncromesh in one direction.

[Jim Yergin]

My first thought is that when you installed the shift plate on the side of the transmission, the fork on the shift plate was not placed in the opening in the syncromesh but to one side of it. By doing this, it would only move the syncromesh in one direction.

Thanks. I will check it out. It did work properly for about 20 miles before getting stuck in second. Do you think that would be the case if the fork was not placed correctly?

Jim Yergin

[suntennis]

If you were able to shift into and out of second gear more one time, then the problem is not with the install of the shift fork.

[DJ194950]

hi jim,

still tranny problems. my GUESS ? :

your synchronizer shift plates have managed to get partially out of place and not allowing the 2-3 shift sleeve to move. or, the brass rings are not properly engaged in the slots causing the same problem. check if you can manually shift the gear sleeve with the shifter cover off.

if you can't, time to take trans apart to check the mentioned parts installation.

good luck,

doug

[Jim Yergin]

hi jim,

still tranny problems. my GUESS ? :

your synchronizer shift plates have managed to get partially out of place and not allowing the 2-3 shift sleeve to move. or, the brass rings are not properly engaged in the slots causing the same problem. check if you can manually shift the gear sleeve with the shifter cover off.

if you can't, time to take trans apart to check the mentioned parts installation.

good luck,

doug

Thanks Doug. Have the shifter cover off and still won't shift. So the tranmission will come out tonight. Goodness knows I sure have had enough practice doing that.

Jim Yergin

[Jim Yergin]

This afternoon I dissassembled my transmission. It is not a good sign when the first thing you see are brass shavings. Here is what my first synchronizer stop ring looks like. Do you think this is why I was stuck in second?

Does anyone have any idea as to what I did or didn't do to cause this? I have dissassembled and reassembled the transmission several times before and have never had this occur.

Jim Yergin

[greg g]

What are you using for lubricant??? New gear oils are not Brass and Bronze friendly but with as few miles as you have on your car, it can't just be the lube oil.

[ptwothree]

miss timed powershift??

[P-12 Tommy]

Let's hope it didn't chew anything else up!

Tom

[Greenbomb]

Before seeing your pictures, I was thinking that maybe you mistakenly put some "Little Nash Rambler" parts in the tranny. But that's probably not it.

[Howard Tarnoff]

I had a very simular shifting problem and found the cause to be a bad pilot busing, a bone dry input shaft that was narling on the crankshaft as well as the fork being ground away by the bearing.

Then again I drive CHRISTINE II

[Howard Tarnoff]

You might give George Asche a call. He not only knows overdrive transmissions but he also knows how the linkage is supposed to work. He is the only guy I know who converted a floor shift car to a column shifter.

I got a ride in that roadster when Wanda and I made the trip to Oil City to pick up our Engine from Asche Machine. That was a few years ago and it was an experience one never will forget.

The Honest Charlie lever switch on the right side of the steering column is for the overdrive and George manhandles that like first chair violinist playing a Stradavarius Violin

[Chester Brzostowski]

Jim,

Keep at it. AAMCO had my suburban transmission in and out 3 times before they fixed it. I was only one of a couple thousand customers. Personally I have always leaned toward a standard shift transmission.

Chet...

[Jim Yergin]

I think my problem was caused by trying to re-use the C clip that retains the clutch gear assembly too many times. The clip failed to hold the assembly in place and the synchro got destroyed and the clutch gear assembly was also damaged. I have replaced the synchro as well as the clutch gear assembly and collar ($60 NOS from Collector Auto Supply). I also installed a new C clip. Everything went back together OK and I have the transmission back in the car. I want to troubleshoot the electrical controls before I take the car off the jack stands and test drive it. But in the garage the transmission shifts fine.

Jim Yergin

[Joe Flanagan]

Let's hope this is it, Jim. Do you have more pictures of the insides?

[oldodge41]

Glad you were able to identify the source of the failure.

[TodFitch]

Glad you were able to find and fix the problem. I will admit that every time I saw the thread title all I could think of was "Beep beep" and "hey buddy how can I get this car out of second gear".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1c4QZGQw5o

[P-12 Tommy]

Glad to hear you're ready to put 'er on the road.