Stuck in 1st gear

[Krueg]

I have a 72 F100. It has a 302 and 3 speed on the column. Yesterday while leaving a jobsite I realized I could not shift into 2nd. The shifter will move back and forth somewhat, but it doesn't feel like I can even get reverse.

I pulled over and got underneath, playing with the linkages. The lever on the transmission for 2nd and 3rd moves easily. The other was stuck. After playing with it for a little bit I got back in, started it back up and now all I had was reverse. The shifter felt the same. I got back under and banged on it a little and then I had only 1st again.

I'm new to this. I need to get it fixed quickly. I've asked here before about switching to a 4 speed. I really would like a floor shift and at least another gear. What transmissions should I look for to be the easiest to swap out?

Any and all advice is greatly appreciated.

[Banjo]

you might want to have a helper try to shift while you check out under truck and in engine bay to find where the bind is occurying. 3-on-tree are notorious for jamming up. I had a 75 Chevy that would bind up if I knocked it out of gear at a redlight, and I had to carry a sawed off mophandle to get me unbound. this was when I was young and scared of trying to fix much, so I'd keep it in gear at a redlight that way for couple years. Nowadays, I'd get somebody to work the linkage and try to observe where it's happening and where my pivot point bushing is missing or fell apart. It's probably a nylon bushing somewhere that has disintegrated from wear, but I really don't know.
they make some inexpensive shifters you can convert to floor shift. Also, a four speed can be made to work on the column (to be sneaky) if you want to run a separate rod for reverse gear. I've seen guys do that in the past, so your pattern instead of r, 1, 2, 3 is now 1, 2, 3, 4 on column and you access reverse through a rod. It's been so long since I've seen that trick (early 80s), can't recall if they used a rod for reverse or a steel cable. banjo.

[Krueg]

I will do that when I get the truck back to my house.

So, you think it's probably the column, rather than the tranny? I'm hoping so.

I'm going to get it tomorrow morning and will have a good look at it this weekend.

[two-bit]

I don't think its your trans either.
I saw lots of three-on-the-tree trucks that got converted to either a floor shifter, or two steel rods sticking out of the floor!!
The tree linkage is notoroius for wearing out its bushings and "locking" you into a gear.
Do what Banjo said about getting a helper. See what its doing underneath.
Then come back and ask the next question.

"How do i replace the bushings and then get the adj. right?"

Good luck,
Two-bit

[fordman]

kieth did a tear down of a 3 spd colum to show how it messes up over the year. i don't know where the link to that page is but it can probably be found from the site index.

[FORDification]

I'm almost certain it would be the column too, not the tranny. Here's the page fordman referred to, which will give you an idea of what's inside and how it works:

http://www.fordification.com/3spd-column_01.htm

[Jake11]

It's normal. Thats why they made 3 on the floor shifters.

[trukcrazy]

If it is like the majority of these, it is in the linkage under the hood. Open the hood and where the linkage attaches to the two fingers on the column, try moving both of the fingers until it comes unstuck. I learned how to drive mine until I could get it fixed. The shift from 1st to 2nd has to be careful and very deliberate, otherwise it will happen almost everytime. When you shift out of 1st, make sure the shifter is in neutral before trying to push it out and up into second. That is where speed shifting a column shift gets you into trouble. I am 99.9% sure that the slop in the linkage is your problem more than the shifter tube in the column itself. I broke the shifter tube in my Maverick twice before converting it to a floor shift.

[Krueg]

You guys are making me feel better. I just got the truck home and am going to have a good look at it tomorrow. I will report back. Thanks again.

[69rangerman]

I had the same problem with a mid 70's chevy also. I didn't know what I was doing, but when it stuck I'd get the hammer out and start tapping those linkages and sooner or later it would magically come unstuck.

It was worth it to see my wife (then girfriend) sink down below the dash so passing traffic wouldn't see her!

[Krueg]

OK, got it home. I crawled underneath and started messing with the levers coming out of the tranny. First one moved, then the other. Apparently, you were all right (not surprised) and it was the column. I drove it around today. The problems seem to be going into first and third. Could it be they just need both linkages adjusted where they're threaded at the transmission?

[Jake11]

Theres a hole thru the two arms where they stick out at the bottom
of the column. Put it in "neutral" and put a pin thru the levers. Now set
the adjustment length on the rods. Might help. Their kinda fussy.

[Krueg]

I just did that. Seems to have helped. Thanks.