Intermittent Balky Shifter

[Clark K.]

For reference, my car is a 1965 Coupe with L76 engine and close-ratio 4 speed.

Last year, I had the clutch assembly replaced and at that time, I also had the transmission rebuilt due to some seal leaks and a 3rd gear synchro problem. Right after they did this work, I sometimes experienced difficulty getting the transmission to downshift into 1st or 2nd at a stop. Only while the car is stopped. This only happens sometimes and I can always brute force it into gear. All the other times, the problem does not happen.

The shop says that this is caused by the rebuilt shifter needing some mileage in order to "loosen up" (or something to that effect). I am still waiting after 200 miles and this is still a minor annoyance. Any thoughts as to the cause and fix for this?

[Edward J.]

Re: Intermittent Balky Shifter

Clark, It sure sounds like a shifter adjustment problem, or its possiable there maybe to much free play in the clutch pedal adjustment.

I know that there is no forgiveness in the adjustment of the shifters, if the alignement is not on the money, you'll run into down shifting issues or up shifting problems, C2 shifters do have a special block to lock the shifter gate so the arms can be adjusted correctly.

[Clark K.]

Re: Intermittent Balky Shifter

Do you think that the 1st and 2nd rail of the shifter linkage is binding up and needs adjustment? Why is it only happening when the car is stopped and then, only sometimes? any ideas? -Clark

[Edward J.]

Re: Intermittent Balky Shifter

Clarke, are you having the problem when down shifting from 3rd to 2nd or from 3rd to 1st ?

[Clark K.]

Re: Intermittent Balky Shifter

Clark, are you having the problem when down shifting from 3rd to 2nd or from 3rd to 1st ?

I believe it is only when downshifting from any gear into 1st and only at a stop or when coasting at slow speed, as in stopping for a red light. It doesn't do this very often but is annoying when it happens. -Clark

[Edward J.]

Re: Intermittent Balky Shifter

Clarke, generally if you down shifting from 3rd to 2nd your moving from 3/4 shifter arm to1/2 shifter arm, So if when down shifting and moving to the other arm and there is a hang -up hence, The trouble is the shifter adjustment.

If you are having down shifting from 2nd to 1st or from 4th to 3rd those the same arms so this would not be a shifter problem. maybe more like a clutch adjustment ( to much free play) the only other thing I could think of is a internal problem with the syncronizer or blocking ring.

hope you can make sense of this, Ed

[Don H.]

Re: Intermittent Balky Shifter

Do you ever try to "double clutch" it when you have trouble? Don H.

[Mike R.]

Re: Intermittent Balky Shifter

On a related note, I also have a shifting problem from 3 to 2nd. When I inspected the linkage, the 1/2 shifter rod end fork is a *very tight* fit on the 1/2 arm on the transmission. Is this right?


Mike

Clarke, generally if you down shifting from 3rd to 2nd your moving from 3/4 shifter arm to1/2 shifter arm, So if when down shifting and moving to the other arm and there is a hang -up hence, The trouble is the shifter adjustment.

If you are having down shifting from 2nd to 1st or from 4th to 3rd those the same arms so this would not be a shifter problem. maybe more like a clutch adjustment ( to much free play) the only other thing I could think of is a internal problem with the syncronizer or blocking ring.

hope you can make sense of this, Ed