help Shifter Handle does not find detent in Park - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

63frankintruck · 04-29-2016, 07:49 PM

I'm putting a 72 GM A body tilt in my truck.
The column seems very tight but it came without a shifter handle.
I have a spare shifter handle from a Caddy tilt that I have tried in the column but when installed it does not have any "detent" areas when shifting the column and does not "lock" (or click) when moved to the Park position.
Any ideas what could be my problem?
Thanks in advance for any feedback

BLAZERMAN · 04-29-2016, 09:12 PM

Do you have all the linkage hooked up all the way to the trans? Detents are not built into the column they're in the transmission.

57larry · 04-29-2016, 10:49 PM

what year Caddy shift handle fits out tilts?

joeydurango · 04-29-2016, 11:35 PM

Assuming you're using a shift lever that's compatible, it could just be worn out. Or the column detent plate could be worn out. The actual shift detents are at the transmission, as Blazerman noted, but there are also a few detents in the column - this is why you normally have to pull in on the shift lever to go from Park to Reverse, Drive to L2 or L1, or Neutral to Reverse. If the lever no longer has a sharp square edge at the end (or if it is "notched", it will shift through the gears, but without any safety detents. Same if the detent plate in the column doesn't have any square edges left...

snipescastle2 · 04-30-2016, 08:07 AM

If you find a nice tilt column or Van tilt, it has the detents inside the column, a little more protected from the elements, less likely to wear out than a standard column would be, that's the same issue I had with my standard column, the detent plate was worn out and you could hardly feel the gear selection except for the transmission selector.
Ben

joeydurango · 04-30-2016, 09:22 AM

He is using a tilt column.

snipescastle2 · 04-30-2016, 10:48 AM

Ok, I didn't realize it was an "A" body tilt, that's where the problem lies.....
Ben

63frankintruck · 04-30-2016, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by snipescastle2

Ok, I didn't realize it was an "A" body tilt, that's where the problem lies.....
Ben

Yes it is an A body tilt from 72 skylark, (actually fit in fairly nicely)
Bought a new shifter handle at Swapmeet today. Going to see if that helps. I've already shaved the key off the column, so hope I don't have to scrap it and start over. ThNks for all the replies! 👍

63frankintruck · 05-04-2016, 01:07 PM

Correct shifter handle did the trick! Thanks for all the input guys! I appreciate your help

04-29-2016, 07:49 PM	#1
63frankintruck Registered User Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Keller, tx Posts: 426	help Shifter Handle does not find detent in Park I'm putting a 72 GM A body tilt in my truck. The column seems very tight but it came without a shifter handle. I have a spare shifter handle from a Caddy tilt that I have tried in the column but when installed it does not have any "detent" areas when shifting the column and does not "lock" (or click) when moved to the Park position. Any ideas what could be my problem? Thanks in advance for any feedback

04-29-2016, 09:12 PM	#2
BLAZERMAN Currently Blazerless Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: St. Joseph Mo. Posts: 4,826	Re: help Shifter Handle does not find detent in Park Do you have all the linkage hooked up all the way to the trans? Detents are not built into the column they're in the transmission. __________________ 1972 C/30 133" W.B. C&C 1970 GMC 3500 157" W.B. single wheel C&C

04-29-2016, 10:49 PM	#3
57larry Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 1,160	Re: help Shifter Handle does not find detent in Park what year Caddy shift handle fits out tilts?

04-29-2016, 11:35 PM	#4
joeydurango Registered User Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Durango, CO Posts: 827	Re: help Shifter Handle does not find detent in Park Assuming you're using a shift lever that's compatible, it could just be worn out. Or the column detent plate could be worn out. The actual shift detents are at the transmission, as Blazerman noted, but there are also a few detents in the column - this is why you normally have to pull in on the shift lever to go from Park to Reverse, Drive to L2 or L1, or Neutral to Reverse. If the lever no longer has a sharp square edge at the end (or if it is "notched", it will shift through the gears, but without any safety detents. Same if the detent plate in the column doesn't have any square edges left... __________________ 1972 K10 Cheyenne Super \| LWB, fleetside \| 350/350/205 \| KEEPER 1971 K10 Cheyenne \| SWB, fleetside \| LS Swap 5.3/4L60 \| SOLD 1976 Trans Am \| 400/4-spd \| SOLD 1976 Trans Am \| 455/4-spd \| TOTALED

04-30-2016, 08:07 AM	#5
snipescastle2 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: WARRENSBURG,MISSOURI,64093 Posts: 1,518	Re: help Shifter Handle does not find detent in Park If you find a nice tilt column or Van tilt, it has the detents inside the column, a little more protected from the elements, less likely to wear out than a standard column would be, that's the same issue I had with my standard column, the detent plate was worn out and you could hardly feel the gear selection except for the transmission selector. Ben __________________ "Persistence is the twin sister of Excellence.one is a matter of quality,the other, a matter of time" “Serious Black” my 1971 Short Bed Fleetside Sold to an outstanding man in Lees Summit,Mo. “Gone, but by no means,Forgotten”

04-30-2016, 09:22 AM	#6
joeydurango Registered User Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Durango, CO Posts: 827	Re: help Shifter Handle does not find detent in Park He is using a tilt column. __________________ 1972 K10 Cheyenne Super \| LWB, fleetside \| 350/350/205 \| KEEPER 1971 K10 Cheyenne \| SWB, fleetside \| LS Swap 5.3/4L60 \| SOLD 1976 Trans Am \| 400/4-spd \| SOLD 1976 Trans Am \| 455/4-spd \| TOTALED

04-30-2016, 10:48 AM	#7
snipescastle2 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: WARRENSBURG,MISSOURI,64093 Posts: 1,518	Re: help Shifter Handle does not find detent in Park Ok, I didn't realize it was an "A" body tilt, that's where the problem lies..... Ben __________________ "Persistence is the twin sister of Excellence.one is a matter of quality,the other, a matter of time" “Serious Black” my 1971 Short Bed Fleetside Sold to an outstanding man in Lees Summit,Mo. “Gone, but by no means,Forgotten”

05-04-2016, 01:07 PM	#9
63frankintruck Registered User Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Keller, tx Posts: 426	Re: help Shifter Handle does not find detent in Park Correct shifter handle did the trick! Thanks for all the input guys! I appreciate your help



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