The patient is my '61 Strato Chief that sat for 7 years. I'm in the process of resurrecting it but ran into a shifting issue. The car shifted fine before storage. Anyways, the gear shift level was very stiff at first so I sprayed the mechanism in the engine compartment with WD40 and inside the car for better or worse I sprayed some WD40 in the little hole (looks like a set screw hole) on the base of the shifter that's covered by the rubber grommet. That freed up the R and 1 shifts but I still can't seem to get it into 2 or 3. I went underneath and shifted the trans by hand because I thought it might be binding there but the trans shifts fine. The shift rods are a little loose (need to replace the bushings), but that shouldn't effect the shifting itself since it seems as though the culprit is the 'T' shaped thingy (not sure what it's called) with the notch cut in it which doesn't want to go forward when I attempt to engage 2 or 3. I didn't want to force the shift level too much in case I damage something.
Any ideas on what might be causing the problem? Is there maybe some sort of a grease point there to grease the mechanism as I suspect it's just very stiff from sitting all these years? Or must I bite the bullet and disassemble the steering column to get at the mechanism and grease it while disassembled?
See, I dunno about the whole set screw business. All I meant is that there appears to be a hole that looks like a set screw hole at the base of the shifter behind the rubber boot but there's no set screw there because the WD40 tube/straw fits quite deeply (probably 2" or so) into the hole and this is where I sprayed as well. I sprayed fairly liberally; that was several days ago and so far no change. Still not working. Maybe I sprayed it in the wrong hole LOL, maybe there's another set screw hole.
-- Edited by meowy84 on Thursday 3rd of October 2013 12:17:18 AM
take the set screw out of the shifter and take the shifter out of the column and spray it inside the column ,mine was like that and mine loosend up after that
WHEN I BOUGHT MY '64 LAURENTIAN, IT HAD SAT FOR 35 YEARS. THE SHIFTER WOULD HARDLY MOVE. I JUST WORKED IT BACK AND FORTH THROUGH THE SHIFT PATTERN A NUMBER OF TIMES, NOT BEING OVERLY FORCEFULL, AND IT DID LOOSEN UP JUST FINE.
WHEN I BOUGHT MY '64 LAURENTIAN, IT HAD SAT FOR 35 YEARS. THE SHIFTER WOULD HARDLY MOVE. I JUST WORKED IT BACK AND FORTH THROUGH THE SHIFT PATTERN A NUMBER OF TIMES, NOT BEING OVERLY FORCEFULL, AND IT DID LOOSEN UP JUST FINE.
Yes, exactly, that's what I tried doing and along with the WD40 freed up the R and 1 but 2 and 3 still stuck. Maybe I should keep at it instead of resorting to taking the steering column apart anf greasing the damn thing (although it probably needs it).
Same, reverse and 1st but 2 and 3rd bind what about linkage under master cylinder, Oil or grease to free it from jamming. Tom
Ya, I think the issue is something inside the actual column (I'm not sure if it's sleeves in there or what since I've never had it apart). The exposed linkages under the master cylinder have been well greased and oiled. I think the problem (the binding that is) is somethere in the linkages that hide in the steerring column.
I've run into this several times and it can take a real flooding of WD40 to get freed up assuming nothing is broken or bent. I recently bought a 1977 GM motor home that has been sitting for several years and the automatic column shifter was almost seized up, moving only between drive and reverse, so both automatic and standard column shifters can develop the problem. Stick the nozzle in between the shifter and column and spray away. Then do it some more!!
I've run into this several times and it can take a real flooding of WD40 to get freed up assuming nothing is broken or bent. I recently bought a 1977 GM motor home that has been sitting for several years and the automatic column shifter was almost seized up, moving only between drive and reverse, so both automatic and standard column shifters can develop the problem. Stick the nozzle in between the shifter and column and spray away. Then do it some more!!
Thanks Randy
I really don't see your problem Randy, 'cause you're either driving or backing up so R and D is all you really need. LOL
In all seriousness, when parked my shifter went in and out of all gears so I'm assuming the no damage scenario (unless a mouse died in the steering column and it's carcass is blocking the movement, which believe it or not might be a possibility and at this point wouldn't surprise me). I guess I'll just have to put some old t-shirts on the floor to absorb the excess dripping and spray the heck out of the innards of the column and hope that frees it up.
Had the same problem with a 60 chev I had.... Kept spraying it and eventually it loosened up and worked flawlessly, Well as close to that as possible
__________________
1960 Pontiac Strato Chief Safari 1960 Laurentian Safari 1960 Laurentian 4door(scrapped) 2001 Grand Am Traded on a '96 Suburban 2WD 2002 Hyundai Accent(SOLD) 1968 Grand Parisienne Scrapped and SOLD
If a mouse died in your steering column mast jacket it would not be possible for you not to know, unless you have no sense of smell. It would be truly bad, so bad that bugs would choke.
You are progressing the right way by liberal application of WD40 and gentle persuasion. Once it frees up just remember that WD40 isn't actually a true lubricant of the lasting variety. You might want to follow up with some white lithium grease, what they sell as garage door lube in aerosol form.
__________________
67 Chevelle Malibu Sport Coupe, Oshawa-built 250 PG never disturbed.
In garage, 296 cid inline six & TH350...
Cam, Toronto.
I don't judge a man by how far he's fallen, but by how far back he bounces - Patton
I've run into this several times and it can take a real flooding of WD40 to get freed up assuming nothing is broken or bent. I recently bought a 1977 GM motor home that has been sitting for several years and the automatic column shifter was almost seized up, moving only between drive and reverse, so both automatic and standard column shifters can develop the problem. Stick the nozzle in between the shifter and column and spray away. Then do it some more!!
Thanks Randy
I really don't see your problem Randy, 'cause you're either driving or backing up so R and D is all you really need. LOL
In all seriousness, when parked my shifter went in and out of all gears so I'm assuming the no damage scenario (unless a mouse died in the steering column and it's carcass is blocking the movement, which believe it or not might be a possibility and at this point wouldn't surprise me). I guess I'll just have to put some old t-shirts on the floor to absorb the excess dripping and spray the heck out of the innards of the column and hope that frees it up.
Actually, it was a problem, as the shifter wouldn't go into park, just R-N-D. That's why they sold it so cheap, their neighbor mechanic friend told them it was an internal transmission problem and to get rid of it. The in and out movement was seized solid, but has been free ever since. Have you flooded yours with WD 40 yet??
If a mouse died in your steering column mast jacket it would not be possible for you not to know, unless you have no sense of smell. It would be truly bad, so bad that bugs would choke.
You are progressing the right way by liberal application of WD40 and gentle persuasion. Once it frees up just remember that WD40 isn't actually a true lubricant of the lasting variety. You might want to follow up with some white lithium grease, what they sell as garage door lube in aerosol form.
I must somewhat disagree with you on the mouse thing. If only 1 mouse was present then ok but if there is a mouse infestation (like happened in my case) and the car interior already smells of mouse urine a dead mouse lodged in the steering column apparatus would likely go undetected. Also mice have a habit of "drying up" when dead so that lowers the mouse VOC emissions. lol
As for the WD40 I haven't done anything further than my original spraying which didn't fully free things up and now with the snow and work I just haven't had the chance to do a good spraying but have removed the steering wheel for better access and plan on a good spraying soon.
Well, I can't disagree with my cousin so Fluid Film is formally the recommended bolt action lube!!
Thanks Randy
Spray in Fluid Film and leave to new year The shifter will shift like new no mouse poop
__________________
Prince Edward Island
'64 Parisienne CS "barn find" - last on the road in '86 ... Owner Protection Plan booklet, original paint, original near-mint aqua interior, original aqua GM floor mats, original 283, factory posi, and original rust.
Hello Colleague, I have had numerous 3 speeds and almost all of them eventually had your problem, just put it in neutral on the column and go out under the hood to the steering shaft and you will see where the rods connect at the junction box (near the firewall) and move the levers by hand (wear gloves due to grease and grime) to match neutral then go back inside the vehicle and try to shift again, I hope this works it always did for me. PS I am searching for a 61 Pontiac to put my 283 into, do you know of one by chance..????? regards...Terry (aka 4 speed)
hello ,over the years I have had lots of 3 speed trans with this problem but it wasn't so much lubrication as it was play and misalignment, try putting the trans in neutral (under the car) and then see if the shift arms are in neutral on the column by the firewall. If not in the center put them as such, then try to slowly and methodically put the shifter into second and third.....from sitting and then attempting to shift while stiff it may be "locked up".... good luck....it always worked for me...TDM (4 speed)
I just had one last week, an autobox (62), that was seized solid from sitting. The rod was rusted inside the shifter arm on the tranny. Had to use penetrating oil, and then tap with a hammer over and over, up and down, and finally got it to budge. Fifty more times (or so) and it was moving freely again. You may have the same issue with one of your linkages on the side of the transmission. The rods actually rust right to the insides of the arms.
(self serving as it may be to request such a thing heh heh)