1st gear only???

[Robert Smith]

Hey guys, I was out driving the Dodge on Monday morning and I came to a stop light... Light turns green and I shift into 1st. As I accelerate, I clutch to move into 2nd. Well, the selector handle does not want to go into 2nd... Or 3rd or anything. So, I pull off the road and see what's happening in the linkage... I can't see anything that's holding it up... So, I can't seem to get it unstuck or figure what's happening... I have AAA flat bed it home.

Now, I drove it in 1st 3 blocks to a shop and they had it most of the day... And he can't figure out what's happening with it. He disconnected the linkage and he doesn't feel it's anything to do with the selector, he feels it's in the transmission.

Anyone else have '39-40 model? It's enclosed and the shift rod is inside the steering column. What could be keeping it in 1st?

Thanks in advance,

-=Rob

[desoto1939]

I know on ebay they sell shift lever bushings for our old mopars. it could be that the shift lever bushings need to be replaced.

This is my quesstimate from what you are describing.

Search on ebay for Shift lever bushing kits.

Here is the link to some mopar bushing kits on ebay: http://www.ebay.com/itm/1931-33-35-37-1941-PLYMOUTH-1939-1940-DODGE-NORS-GEAR-SHIFT-LEVER-BUSHING-LB-432-/110860743125?pt=Vintage_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item19cfd0b1d5&vxp=mtr

Rich HArtung

Desoto1939@aol.com

[greg g]

Is your car cable shift or rods??? Unless you ran it out of lubricant, 90% or the problems with the tranmission are linkage related as in not pulling or pushing far enough, to engage the gear sets. This can be excaserbated but mushy rear motor mounts.

[Robert Smith]

I had the linkage looked at, two guys say it's the gear box that's not allowing the car to shift out of 1st.

There is tranny fluid in there, so I know it's not the lack of that causing this.

I'm not sure what to do, there's many shops in town but, when the word Transmission is mentioned, they all get scared.

=R

[Andydodge]

Rob, can you get a friend to help you.........I'd jack it up, or go thru from the floorboards if poosible.......while you push in clutch and try to move the gearlever, see if there is any movement thru the linkages down to the levers off the gearbox......if need be undo the levers from the side of the gearbox by undoing the 1/2" nuts that attach the levers to the gearbox selectors.....then try to move the shifter on the column.......if the shifter moves freely with the linkage not connected to the gearbox then the problem has to be inside the gearbox...........if the shifter doesn't want to play the game with the linkages not connected to the gearbox then its the shifter mechanism......39/40 uses a cable from memory.......most of this is checkable yourself but it may help to have a 2nd person to operate the shifter whilst you check the "result"...........hope this helps.......andyd

[Robert Smith]

That is a help Andy!

I was curious about the shifter lever… Wether it was a cable or a rod… Since it's "IN" the column, it should be a cable. The '41 I believe was rod… I remember my P-15 having an external rod along the side of the column.

After I put the car in first and as I started to move the lever up to 2nd, I did hear a "POP" of sorts. Could have been the cable coming loose or busting... Yet, if the cable did malfunction, wouldn't that mean the shift lever would be free to move normally?

Any how, the car is no longer at the mechanic's garage, it's now in the calm, quiet and safe driveway of a neighbor's house… He's got an old car mindset and also a neighbor of his that is a crack shot with these old machines. So, hopefully tonight I'll be able to figure out what's happening with this thing.

More on this later!

=Rob

Edited September 6, 2012 by Robert Smith

[Rodney Bullock]

I don't know if Dodge and Plymouth are the same, I have a 1940 Plymouth and I have the cable. Mine did the same thing and I took the floor out. You can see where the cable comes in. Sometimes the cable comes loose. I had trouble with reverse, you might have to remove the front floor section so you can see it.

[Robert Smith]

Remove the floor? Gosh, that sounds a little drastic for this... Doesn't it?

[greg g]

no there is a removeable panel which gives access to the transmission and linkage from above.

[Don Coatney]

Remove the floor? Gosh, that sounds a little drastic for this... Doesn't it?

Drastic? I would think driving around with only one gear is a bit drastic. Floor panel removal is not difficult if you have a wrench of the correct size.

[Rodney Bullock]

Your repairman or you can't see the assembly without removing it.

[40P10touring sedan]

I have a '40 plymouth{P10} and the entire front floor pan can come out...while it took nearly a week to get those struck slot bolts out, it was worth it for the ease of access. I don't know how large the access is for your P15 but it can't be too much smaller I'd bet...

Now, my '40 had the cable/rod linkage....cable for the sellect{r/1 & 2/3 range} and a rod for the movement of each range- 1st to rev and 2nd to 3rd.

What do you have in yours so we can start out with that...my car had a hard time getting back into 1st/r due to the cable being too slack and not pulling enough to change the sellect - add a ton of linkage slop{nearly 1/3 travel of the steering wheel}...also, for my car 2nd/3rd was the default range..one had to pull back to get to 1st/r...your car might be different. I was amazed at how little my throws are now once I got all the slop out of it!

While it could be the trans shift forks acting up{sticky/broken/shot interlocks or springs}, I say let's check the easier stuff{linkage} 1st...

Pop the hood and look at the steering column there, do you have a pair of rods there or 1 rod and a cable?

BTW, your shift rod inside the car is on the right?...correct?{mine's on top}

Edited September 8, 2012 by 40P10touring sedan

[Rodney Bullock]

I know this is a p-15 D24 site and alot of us have the mopar 6 cly. They are for the most part the same. The 1940 plymouth is a strange but unique car. The floor does come out, the shift 40-41 does use a cable. This is why we(1940-41) owner's love these cars so much. You just have to change your thinking just a little:)

[Don St Peter]

Interestingly I have a 40 Ply P-9 and my shifting mechanism are rods... No cables. Since some of you have 40 Ply with cable, there must have been a mid year change???

Don

[Robert Smith]

Well, I was unaware there was a section that can be removed from the floor to access the tranz. That would mean taking up the carpet which needs to be done anyway, it should have rubber in the front floor.

My Dodge is at a friend's place and he is desiring that I take it home and put it in my garage. However, this isn't easy seeing the garage is in a narrow alleyway and the only way that I can park it in the garage is by backing it in. The Alleyway doubles as a gutter so, the garage sits on a higher ground than the alley, it's a glorified gutter more or less that means a steep incline up to the threshold of the garage. So, I'm going to have to recruit a few big guys to push this tank back into the garage while I steer and hold the clutch in.

A friend's neighbor has mentioned that he will fix the car but, it wont be till later this week. I'll keep you posted as to what happens.

Thanks again for all your advice and help.

Rob=-

[40P10touring sedan]

Interestingly I have a 40 Ply P-9 and my shifting mechanism are rods... No cables. Since some of you have 40 Ply with cable, there must have been a mid year change???

Don

From what I've found out, it would almost seem that the northern based '40 cars had 2 rods while alot of the suothern ones had the combo...mind you there's no set science to this and the whole range of owners/cars is at 5 vehicles to compare to...not something to rewrite the books over at the moment, but still darn interesting as to what ma mopar was doing.

[40P10touring sedan]

Well, I was unaware there was a section that can be removed from the floor to access the tranz. That would mean taking up the carpet which needs to be done anyway, it should have rubber in the front floor.

My Dodge is at a friend's place and he is desiring that I take it home and put it in my garage. However, this isn't easy seeing the garage is in a narrow alleyway and the only way that I can park it in the garage is by backing it in. The Alleyway doubles as a gutter so, the garage sits on a higher ground than the alley, it's a glorified gutter more or less that means a steep incline up to the threshold of the garage. So, I'm going to have to recruit a few big guys to push this tank back into the garage while I steer and hold the clutch in.

A friend's neighbor has mentioned that he will fix the car but, it wont be till later this week. I'll keep you posted as to what happens.

Thanks again for all your advice and help.

Rob=-

I wouldn't think your dodge would be much different than a plymouth access wise...but there are differences between the 3 makes{ply/dodg/chry} so it could be...Hopefully it'll be an easy fix or adjustment for you...I'm crossing my fingers!

[Don Coatney]

WOW! This is drastic! Suggest you drive the car in first gear only for a year or so until you find enough time to take up the carpet and fix the other problems you mentioned

Well, However, this isn't easy seeing the garage is in a narrow alleyway and the only way that I can park it in the garage is by backing it in. The Alleyway doubles as a gutter so, the garage sits on a higher ground than the alley, it's a glorified gutter more or less that means a steep incline up to the threshold of the garage. So, I'm going to have to recruit a few big guys to push this tank back into the garage while I steer and hold the clutch in.

Rob=-

[Young Ed]

From what I've found out, it would almost seem that the northern based '40 cars had 2 rods while alot of the suothern ones had the combo...mind you there's no set science to this and the whole range of owners/cars is at 5 vehicles to compare to...not something to rewrite the books over at the moment, but still darn interesting as to what ma mopar was doing.

It should either be a difference between early and late models or a difference between where they were manufactured. Sometimes the different plants did things a little different due to supplies on hand etc.

[John Reddie]

Hey Rob,

This sounds like my garage. I have a big Plymouth Fury and it fits in but with very little room to spare. It is in out of the weather so that is a plus for me. Good luck with your car.

john R

[Robert Smith]

WOW! This is drastic! Suggest you drive the car in first gear only for a year or so until you find enough time to take up the carpet and fix the other problems you mentioned

Don, cool it. Be nice, I haven't any quarrels with you.

Your sarcasm is NOT appreciated.

[Robert Smith]

Well guys, last night we rolled the Dodge down four blocks to the alley behind our place, we recruited a few guys and with a little luck they pushed the car in (rear first) and I steered it right in. So, this Friday I will be visited by my neighbor's friend who is going to fix this issue. He was able to get the car out of first gear, that's why we had to coast it down and the linkage is disconnected so, I couldn't drive it.

[40P10touring sedan]

... the linkage is disconnected so, I couldn't drive it.

Well shoot, there's your problem, the linkage is ....ok....shadddding up now....

[Robert Smith]

Well shoot, there's your problem, the linkage is ....ok....shadddding up now....

:p

[40P10touring sedan]

Hey, when the times comes, have the guy check to see if the "sellect" arm is coming back....the trans should be 2nd/3rd range biased so when you want 1st/r range you'd have to pull{the shifter lever} for it...starting to wonder if something isn't releasing like it should..check the spring on the cable{?}, on top of the steering shaft, for the sellect cable to see if it's not broken or bunched up....it just shouldn't be "staying" in 1st.

How's your chutch throw and free play..how far down can you push before you start to feel the pressure plate arms touch...I just noticed I have a ton of free play in mine...clutch is probably worn thin as it seems to be almost half the pedal travel to feel it hit the pressure plate arms{slight resistance at that point before the clutch actually starts to get released}.

Here's my "cable" for the sellect range- the side rod{not shown} does 2nd/3rd-1st/R shifting...the cable sellects{pulls} into the 1st/R range...when slack it's in 2nd/3rd range. Sorry if you laready knew this stuff...just trying to help.

Now, just for a reference, here's what "mine" is like with the floor pan out

Very spacious...very filthy, but very spacious!