Re: Gear selector stuck

Posted by HH56 On 2017/4/28 19:35:15

I don't know if the shift tube moves up and down but it has been a long time since I had one apart. The problem may be inside the car. When you pull back the lever there is a tang on the end that is pulled away from a slot in the bottom of the round cast piece just below the steering wheel where the turn signal switch is mounted.

Once the tang is clear of the slot, moving the lever rotates the tapered part of the column which is keyed to the shift tube so the whole assy turns and moves the lever at the other end.

There are two thin square head bolts which if I remember correctly go thru a space in the tapered rotating piece to fit in small rectangular openings on the top of the outer column to hold the top casting on the tube. If one of those has loosened it could possibly be cocked and binding keeping the tapered part from turning.

There are two other places where something could have loosened. Under the rubber cover at the base of the dash is the mechanism for the gear indicator needle. That has a tang which fits in an opening in the shift tube and as the tube rotates, a piece the indicator needle is attached to is made to slide in another piece to move the needle. That sliding piece may be binding.

Also the neutral safety switch on the engine side of column near the firewall is connected to the lever or shift tube. Something could be out of whack preventing rotation. I vaguely remember a small link connecting to the switch and if that is out of place could be an issue.