Shift indicator is off to the left

[andrewpclayton]

Hello all.. I know there are some threads on this already but none seem to be what I need..
I got this column from another 69 and I’m using it with a th350. The indicator is way off to the left. Is there a way to slide the column part that has the indicator over to line these up? Can just the part of the column the rod connects to be rotated?

[Steeveedee]

Don't remember the anatomy there for sure, but is the transmission in Park with the lever in that position? I'd think that the linkage only needs to be adjusted. To do that, block the wheels, and put the truck in Drive, and adjust the linkage rod. There is a detent for the lever inside, so make sure that lines up, too.

[70shortfleet]

loosen the nut at the column that holds the connecting rod from trans to column, then put trans in neutral and put shift lever on column in neutral, trans and shift lever in neutral is a good place to start, then retighten the nut that you loosened at 1st. See if that helps

[LockDoc]

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I always use the Park position for the adjustment and here is why. The park detent on the shifter arm has to lock behind the raised bump on the shift selector plate. The only way to insure that the detent is in the correct position is to have it in that position and the transmission in park when the adjustment lock bolt is tightened up on the shift rod.

LockDoc

[Fbks_Cruiser]

And after you have adjusted the linkage so that the pointer is properly aligned, you may have to adjust the neutral safety / backup lamp switch.

[andrewpclayton]

Even if I have the rod disconnected I have no play in the indicator position via the piece with the detent and the piece that holds the rod. Am I missing something or not thinking about this the right way?

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by andrewpclayton

Even if I have the rod disconnected I have no play in the indicator position via the piece with the detent and the piece that holds the rod. Am I missing something or not thinking about this the right way?

It depends on where your detent bump on the arm is sitting on the shift selector plate. People tend to think that the park position is all the way past the plate, but it isn't. It has to sit on the plate and rest against the raised bump on the plate. (see picture) This raised bump is usually worn down (like this one) and may need to have a bead of weld layered on it and dressed back up to factory specs. That is why you have to pull the shift lever back toward you to shift the transmission into the park position, to get the arm detent over that boss.

LockDoc

[Katrina/10]

Originally Posted by LockDoc

It depends on where your detent bump on the arm is sitting on the shift selector plate. People tend to think that the park position is all the way past the plate, but it isn't. It has to sit on the plate and rest against the raised bump on the plate. (see picture) This raised bump is usually worn down (like this one) and may need to have a bead of weld layered on it and dressed back up to factory specs. That is why you have to pull the shift lever back toward you to shift the transmission into the park position, to get the arm detent over that boss.

LockDoc

Thank you Leon! For years I have wondered why my pointer goes so far to left, now I find out I was doing it wrong. I'm going to try to readjust my shift rod today, and see how it works.

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by Katrina/10

Thank you Leon! For years I have wondered why my pointer goes so far to left, now I find out I was doing it wrong. I'm going to try to readjust my shift rod today, and see how it works.

Let us know how it goes.

LockDoc

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by LockDoc

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I always use the Park position for the adjustment and here is why. The park detent on the shifter arm has to lock behind the raised bump on the shift selector plate. The only way to insure that the detent is in the correct position is to have it in that position and the transmission in park when the adjustment lock bolt is tightened up on the shift rod.

LockDoc

We used "N" in the assembly plant because it takes any assembly variation and spreads it across both ends of the range of shifter motion.

Out in the real world - I always use Park as well. That's the spot we really care about.

K

[Steeveedee]

Go here and follow the procedure detailed in the transmission section. The reason for having the shift selector in drive is because it is imperative that the detent in the transmission is set with the roller at the bottom of it, so that full pressure is allowed to flow in the transmission. If this is mis-adjusted, early failure will result.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...ghlight=hatzie

[Katrina/10]

Originally Posted by LockDoc

Let us know how it goes.

LockDoc

The adjustment was a success! Easiest thing I did that day. Everything lines up better and the neutral safety switch works like it's supposed to. The shift lever does hang a little lower when it's in drive, but not too bad. I'm really glad I read this, it's been bugging me for a long time.