3 on the tree trouble shifting
 

Hey everyone,

So finally got my truck out the other day for the second time only to make it around the corner and have it not shift to 2nd. Sometimes it runs through smoothly but more often I cant get out of the gear im in. Reaching under the hood, everything shifts fine by hand, but using the shifter on the column is another story. It is flimsy, wiggles around alot and does not move the H pattern smoothly at all. Started takunv the stesring wheel apart but before I dig much deeper wanted to get some veteran input on possible common issues inside? Thanks ahead, really want to get out on the road but not if I cant upshift
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Re: 3 on the tree trouble shifting
 

Check out this thread:

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=215307

Re: 3 on the tree trouble shifting
 

Put the steering wheel back on . Replace the shift linkage bushings , And realign the shifter . It can all be done in the truck , This threads shows you how. :chevy:

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=215307


https://www.classicparts.com/1947-76...info/91%2D062/

https://www.classicparts.com/1960-76...info/91%2D063/

Re: 3 on the tree trouble shifting
 

Haha! Beat ya to it!

Re: 3 on the tree trouble shifting
 

:lol: Yeah, But I pulled up the parts too! :lol:

Re: 3 on the tree trouble shifting
 

Yeah, but you did that after I gloated! :metal:

I ran through that a few weeks back, everything under the hood is aligned, nail goes right through, and cant tap the bolt counter clockwise at all. I was really hoping tapping the bolt would tighten things up, but sadly it wouldnt give.
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Re: 3 on the tree trouble shifting
 

HA! :D

I don't know who you are Sir, but I do like you!

You always seem willing to help out, that is very cool IMO! :cool:

...if that makes you grumpy...well...get over it.

Sorry I can't help you out OP, I dumped my 3 speed on the column for a Turbo 350 with a B&M floor shiftier, but I'm sure you'll get it figured out.

OK, back to un-hijacking other peoples threads. :rolleyes:

Re: 3 on the tree trouble shifting
 

well I took the entire steering wheel apart, lubed the shifter, put it all together and the same thing, so I'm ordering the bushings as we speak. Will keep ya'll posted. I'll be tickled if it works and I can actually take the truck out.

Now are these the bushings im ordered? As you can tell in the picture the one set is almost non-existant
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Re: 3 on the tree trouble shifting
 

So ive got the blow up of the steering column and my c10 repair manual, nothing on bushings, i take it they are on the linkage at the actual transmission? Just trying to make sure with someone who knows before I go putting the wrong stuff where it doesnt belong.

Re: 3 on the tree trouble shifting
 

these are the parts you need :chevy:

Well changed the two obvious bushings, double checked the alignment. But where do these 2 bushings go?

Re: 3 on the tree trouble shifting
 

Update: shifts a little better but still gets hung up and has trouble going first to second more times than not. Linkage under the hood shifts just fine, but its like the H pattern in the column is non existent some times. Alot of times the shifter will just move up and down without clutched in like theres nothing there to grab.

Re: 3 on the tree trouble shifting
 

Did you use 2 new bushings on the lower column and 2 new bushings on the trans linkage ?

Put the 2 bushings on the linkage (pictured with nail during alignment), but have no idea where the other two bushings go (pictured sitting ontop of grill). I traced the linkage from steering column to transmission and dont see anything else.
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Re: 3 on the tree trouble shifting
 

2 bushings go in the trans linkage arms that connect to the 2 shift rods ,Look again ,Then readjust the linkage using a 3/16 drill bit not a nail follow the directions in the posted thread above .:chevy:

Re: 3 on the tree trouble shifting
 

these

Ive got it now. That’ll be tomorrow night when I can get her jacked up. The biggest take away i have from the thread, is ive got my ‘cam’ or whatever you want to call it tightened as far as it will go and Ive got a 1/4-3/8” gap compared to his photo which looks much closer
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Re: 3 on the tree trouble shifting
 

my origonal equipped 3 on the tree '72 shifted smoothly when I got it 6 years ago with only 71 k miles on it. and when I sold it 6 years late with 136K miles on it it still shifted like new.

As a rule I replaced the bushings and the clips, I lubed the moving parts in the column and the linkage. And I made sure the tranny was filled up proper with Mobile 1.

I could shift into and out of any gear without even using the clutch and only my finger tip on the end of the column.

so I can confirm that that level of smooth opperating efficiency is easily achievable

If its hard to shift or pops out of second on a turn then I would check for bad mounts or a loose cross member or even a damaged frame. Its the linkage that is worn ... right? and not the tranny.

if your cab is rusty the resulting flex may change the shifter linkage geometry between the cab and the tranny enough to pop it out of gear

Re: 3 on the tree trouble shifting
 

Update:

Lubed the shifter cam w/e its called and let it set up for a day. Came back and followed all directions and sure enough it tightened maybe a third of a turn? Closed the gap dramatically.

Got in the cab and it felt like a whole new shifter. So tonight my wife tells me to take it out and she’ll hang back at home incase. Leave the neighborhood and one two three, shifts fantastic. Turn into a neighborhood to head back home and down shift to second to one and suddenly all im getting is neutral. She wont go back to one, so i say the hell with it and up to second. Rev it up to leave the neighborhood and the engine starts sputtering and hear I go dead on the side of the road.

Call the wife, we leave it there for an hour. Come back and she refuses to start. Cranks just fine but wont fire up. I hit it with a shot of starter fluid, nothing. Take the gas can and drip a few right into the carb, still nothing. So I keep the pedal mashed down and crank and maybe 5 seconds she cranks up, I get her in first and back on the road. Go to shift up and nothing, she wont leave 2nd. So after pulling off to let traffic past, I eventually get home and back in the garage. A while later I go back to the garage to see whats going on, pop the hood, move the levers with my finger, get in the cab and shes right back to feeling new again.

Is this the typical crap you all are dealing with with these 3 on the trees?

Trucks headed to the shop as this is the second time dying on the road and second time wife’s had to deal with it, so her orders are it cant leave the house until it goes to the shop, and I tend to agree.

Re: 3 on the tree trouble shifting
 

Keep working on adjusting the linkage AT HOME , Unless you have a good old school mechanic to take it to the new shops will have no idea how to fix it and you'll just rack up labor hours while they learn on yours . I think you just need to readjust the 2 shift rods .:chevy:

Re: 3 on the tree trouble shifting
 

you have several minor problems that are all easily fixable. separate and sort each one out. and dont let the frustration get you down. its part of owning an old vehicle and... dare I say part of the "fun". trans mission problems and ignition problems are not usually related...do these trucks have a neutral safety switch that I dont know about?

Taking it to a shop and paying them to do the fixes is a quick way to loose interest and money in this hobby

Re: 3 on the tree trouble shifting
 

A new car shop mechanic will cost you 2 hours just from them walking around the truck looking for an OBD port to plug their diagnostic reader into . :haha:

The linkage I can play with, but fuel delivery... luckily when I first bought the truck summit had a sale going on and I bought one of their carb/manifold combos, just still waiting on delivery (2 months now).

Thanks for ya’lls help, I trully appreciate it. Books and self trouble shooting only get so far compared to people with similar experiences/headaches
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