Getting All Gears Except 4th in my 74, Shift linkage adjustment for side shifter Options

[munkmunk]

I recently removed my rear shifter bar from my stock 74 to take a close look at all the shift bushings and the set screws. All looked good, but I replaced the the bushing at the gearbox and both of conical set screws anyway.

While separating the shift coupler from the front shift bar (the one in the tunnel) I THINK the position of the front bar changed inside the clamp at the base of the shift lever. So I had my wife hold the shift lever in the neutral position with it tilted fully over to the right. Then I loosened the 13mm bolt at the clamp just behind the shift lever. Then I crawled under the car and rotated the rear bar fully clockwise until it stopped. Wife then tightened the 13mm bolt on the clamp.

Took it for a drive and I get R, 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 5th. But when I try to go for 4th, it feels like the lever hits something solid. There's no engagement at all into 4th. I CAN get 5th. Any ideas? Before I checked my bushings, I was able to get all the gears fine.

[john77]

I had exactly the same problem this weekend, except for me it turned out to be the set screw holding the shift linkage to the shift bar where they join just beyond the fire wall. It had backed out and was no longer seating in the hole in the shift bar. Doesn't sound like that's your issue though.

4th is actually there - once you push the shifter fully right and forward and it basically hits something solid, if you move the shifter slowly back to the left while pushing it forward it will eventually slot into 4th.

Not telling you that because it's a "fix" though, just to let you know you're not losing your mind (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) - this really isn't a fix as if you're not careful and try to find 4th too fast there's a good chance you'll money shift from 3rd to 2nd instead.

After you removed the shift linkage, did you put it back in exactly the same orientation as when you removed it before reattaching it to the shift rod?

I recently removed my rear shifter bar from my stock 74 to take a close look at all the shift bushings and the set screws. All looked good, but I replaced the the bushing at the gearbox and both of conical set screws anyway.

While separating the shift coupler from the front shift bar (the one in the tunnel) I THINK the position of the front bar changed inside the clamp at the base of the shift lever. So I had my wife hold the shift lever in the neutral position with it tilted fully over to the right. Then I loosened the 13mm bolt at the clamp just behind the shift lever. Then I crawled under the car and rotated the rear bar fully clockwise until it stopped. Wife then tightened the 13mm bolt on the clamp.

Took it for a drive and I get R, 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 5th. But when I try to go for 4th, it feels like the lever hits something solid. There's no engagement at all into 4th. I CAN get 5th. Any ideas? Before I checked my bushings, I was able to get all the gears fine.

[munkmunk]

Thanks john77. Yes, my set screws and bushings are either new or in excellent condition.

Good to know 4th is actually there. I followed your directions and it "appears" that if I move the shift lever just slightly to the left, after attempting a normal shift into what should be 4th, the lever feels like it's going into 4th. I'll try it tomorrow while actually driving the car.

When I first started working on the linkage, I removed both set screws, then disconnected the rear shift linkage bar where it's attached to the transmission, then I tried pulling the rear shift linkage bar to separate it from the front shift linkage bar. I am pretty sure that I must have inadvertently moved (and maybe rotated) the front bar without knowing it. Probably because the 13mm bolt at the clamp wasn't tight enough or loosened a bit.

I had exactly the same problem this weekend, except for me it turned out to be the set screw holding the shift linkage to the shift bar where they join just beyond the fire wall. It had backed out and was no longer seating in the hole in the shift bar. Doesn't sound like that's your issue though.

4th is actually there - once you push the shifter fully right and forward and it basically hits something solid, if you move the shifter slowly back to the left while pushing it forward it will eventually slot into 4th.

Not telling you that because it's a "fix" though, just to let you know you're not losing your mind (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) - this really isn't a fix as if you're not careful and try to find 4th too fast there's a good chance you'll money shift from 3rd to 2nd instead.

After you removed the shift linkage, did you put it back in exactly the same orientation as when you removed it before reattaching it to the shift rod?