Hard to shift automatic column lever - Help! - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

ubtripn · 03-20-2011, 09:06 AM

Hi al,
So my 68 with powerglide can be pretty hard to get into park. Coming out of park into reverse and from reverse into D is awesome.

What can cause this? Linkage? Something in the column?

Bear in mind I am putting a 700R4 in within a couple of weeks so it may just go away but what causes this? Thx in advance.

Hottrucks · 03-20-2011, 09:15 AM

flip the hood up and pull the bolt out of the adjuster and see if its in the column or the linkage?? you should be able to move the linkage by hand under there to the trans...make sure you block the wheels.....then make sure its back in park...seector in park and put the bolt back in.. it should line up too

ubtripn · 03-20-2011, 09:56 AM

willd do, thanks.

cdowns · 03-20-2011, 10:00 AM

check the bushings where the linkage connects to the column they wear out and need replacement many times

ubtripn · 03-20-2011, 10:23 AM

on it, thanks

**Wrenchbender Ret** · 03-20-2011, 10:24 AM

Drive out the pin that retaines the gearshift lever to the column under the steering wheel & remove the lever. Spray WD -40 or similar in the hole. Put the lever back in & work it up & down. If this doesn't do it spray the opening at the bottom of the column where the lower lever comes out. This usually will cure it.

**too much stuff** · 03-20-2011, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wrenchbender Ret

Drive out the pin that retaines the gearshift lever to the column under the steering wheel & remove the lever. Spray WD -40 or similar in the hole. Put the lever back in & work it up & down. If this doesn't do it spray the opening at the bottom of the column where the lower lever comes out. This usually will cure it.

That should do it. I don't even take the shifter out. Just spray some wd in there and keep working it.

**jerry moss** · 03-20-2011, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by too much stuff

That should do it. I don't even take the shifter out. Just spray some wd in there and keep working it.

X3,
i use JB120 or PBBlaster personally but all good penetrating oils will do the trick.

ubtripn · 03-20-2011, 01:43 PM

awesome, that is the kind of fix I like, thanks!

Keller · 03-20-2011, 04:21 PM

this happened to me over the winter. the problem was behind the steering wheel in the column. used some brake caliper grease and she's good as new.

ubtripn · 03-20-2011, 04:54 PM

thanks again guys

Longhorn Man · 03-20-2011, 06:11 PM

almost always in the column, very poor design

ubtripn · 03-20-2011, 06:13 PM

That worked! This board is awesome!

hugger6933 · 03-20-2011, 06:30 PM

I had a similar problem even that you got yours fixed I thought I would post this here maybe to help someone down the road. I found that the plastic pointer that is in the gear indicator had broken and had fallen downinto the shifter and would not let it past neutral going up. Had that happen on two coloums in one week. Jim

**jerry moss** · 03-20-2011, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hugger6933

I had a similar problem even that you got yours fixed I thought I would post this here maybe to help someone down the road. I found that the plastic pointer that is in the gear indicator had broken and had fallen downinto the shifter and would not let it past neutral going up. Had that happen on two coloums in one week. Jim

sounds like you have tilt columns, mine has done that a couple of times. first time it happened it scared the crap out of me, i had no idea what happened.

03-20-2011, 09:06 AM	#1
ubtripn Registered User Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Boise, ID Posts: 1,280	Hard to shift automatic column lever - Help! Hi al, So my 68 with powerglide can be pretty hard to get into park. Coming out of park into reverse and from reverse into D is awesome. What can cause this? Linkage? Something in the column? Bear in mind I am putting a 700R4 in within a couple of weeks so it may just go away but what causes this? Thx in advance. Last edited by ubtripn; 03-20-2011 at 09:06 AM.

03-20-2011, 09:15 AM	#2
Hottrucks Redefining LowBudget Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: lebanon Cow Hampshire Posts: 4,538	Re: Hard to shift automatic column lever - Help! flip the hood up and pull the bolt out of the adjuster and see if its in the column or the linkage?? you should be able to move the linkage by hand under there to the trans...make sure you block the wheels.....then make sure its back in park...seector in park and put the bolt back in.. it should line up too __________________ 1970 C10 CST fleetside 472 ....big dreams little cash... http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=335721 SunShine Syndicate.. Mikes Sandwich Fair Run OCT 8th 2011 http://www.thesandwichfair.com/html/...auto_show.html

03-20-2011, 09:56 AM	#3
ubtripn Registered User Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Boise, ID Posts: 1,280	Re: Hard to shift automatic column lever - Help! willd do, thanks.

03-20-2011, 10:00 AM	#4
cdowns Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: daytonabeach Posts: 22,956	Re: Hard to shift automatic column lever - Help! check the bushings where the linkage connects to the column they wear out and need replacement many times __________________ 71c-10 350/2004r/4:11 lowered3/4 longbed/dead by hurricane MEANING OF DEATH::::: SOMEBODY ELSE GETS YOUR STUFF DONT BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU THINK TAKE MY ADVISE;I DON'T USE IT ANYWAY

03-20-2011, 10:23 AM	#5
ubtripn Registered User Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Boise, ID Posts: 1,280	Re: Hard to shift automatic column lever - Help! on it, thanks

03-20-2011, 10:24 AM	#6
Wrenchbender Ret Registered User Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Overland Park, Ks. Posts: 5,193	Re: Hard to shift automatic column lever - Help! Drive out the pin that retaines the gearshift lever to the column under the steering wheel & remove the lever. Spray WD -40 or similar in the hole. Put the lever back in & work it up & down. If this doesn't do it spray the opening at the bottom of the column where the lower lever comes out. This usually will cure it.

03-20-2011, 01:43 PM	#9
ubtripn Registered User Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Boise, ID Posts: 1,280	Re: Hard to shift automatic column lever - Help! awesome, that is the kind of fix I like, thanks!

03-20-2011, 04:21 PM	#10
Keller Registered User Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 79	Re: Hard to shift automatic column lever - Help! this happened to me over the winter. the problem was behind the steering wheel in the column. used some brake caliper grease and she's good as new.

03-20-2011, 04:54 PM	#11
ubtripn Registered User Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Boise, ID Posts: 1,280	Re: Hard to shift automatic column lever - Help! thanks again guys

03-20-2011, 06:11 PM	#12
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	Re: Hard to shift automatic column lever - Help! almost always in the column, very poor design

03-20-2011, 06:13 PM	#13
ubtripn Registered User Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Boise, ID Posts: 1,280	Re: Hard to shift automatic column lever - Help! That worked! This board is awesome!

03-20-2011, 06:30 PM	#14
hugger6933 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Marianna Arkansas Posts: 7,257	Re: Hard to shift automatic column lever - Help! I had a similar problem even that you got yours fixed I thought I would post this here maybe to help someone down the road. I found that the plastic pointer that is in the gear indicator had broken and had fallen downinto the shifter and would not let it past neutral going up. Had that happen on two coloums in one week. Jim



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