Re: Shift Linkage Lock-up

Posted by HH56 On 2019/7/26 7:31:05

Any number of causes and Packard found quite a few of them but worn or misadjusted linkage tops the list. Suggest you go to the Service Index on the left menu, Select 37-42 cars and then Transmission and Overdrive. Drill down to gearshift and all the various linkage and lockup categories and peruse the service bulletins to get a feel for what might be worth checking..

There are a few pertaining to some bushings which very early linkage such as your 39 might still have. There have been several people who have found the ends of their shift rods worn quite badly to the point they had to have them welded to build the metal back up and then ground to size for the bushings again.

I hope I remember this correctly and if not, someone please say so but as I recall Ross mentioned he uses the procedure as Packard wrote it to adjust the levers but then adds another turn to the low/reverse turnbuckle so first gear is kind of preloaded and wants to start to move out of mesh just a tiny bit before second wants to move in. This was on the Clipper body style linkage but there would probably be the same adjustment available for the prewar design.