Packard Forum Index » V-8 (1955-56)

When attempting to adjust the shifting linkage I managed to pull the link manual control valve out of its hole. Now all is frozen. Nothing moves. What can I do to get it back in place and continue to adjust the shift linkage?
Not so Happy

The detent assy consists of two opposed plungers in a housing screwed onto the end of the rear lower valve body. The plungers have fairly heavy springs inside a hollow core. Those plungers will need to be held back while you slip them back over the valve to rest in their grooves. I can't remember if you are able to push the manual valve all the way thru with the bent link still attached or if it needs to be removed from the valve but once the end of the valve is out the back side you can push the plungers in against the springs to slide the detent assy back over the valve. If there is room in the trans to manipulate you MIGHT be able to work from the end using a soft wooden or plastic pry tool to work and hold each plunger alternately and individually with the detent assy still screwed in place while you push the valve back over the plungers. Important to not scratch or score anything in the valve bore or the plungers.




If the entire detent assy does need to come off the valve body, since the plunger detent assy is in the housing (circled in red) screwed onto the rear of the valve body, to be safe I would suggest you remove the entire rear lower valve body from the trans and set it on a workbench while you manipulate the plungers to get things back into position. That way if detents are removed from the body there would be no danger of other valves or springs popping out and getting mixed up.

Thank you! I hope to try to work on this tonight or tomorrow. Will post results.
Happy

Howard is basically on the right track and the photos and illustrations he posted are correct. The easiest way is to simply have the manual valve up against the detents and find a flathead screwdriver that has a very nearly half inch wide blade. Insert the blade between the detents, then twist and wiggle the screwdriver to push the detents back into their bores. While doing this, gently push the manual valve towards the detents.

If this is not very easy, then simply remove the three fillister head screws that hold on the little detent assembly and sort of jam your finger in there to get the detents pressed in and then wiggle that onto the manual valve. Once the manual valve is back inside then just screw on the detent assembly again.