Gear Shift Detent

[jim curran]

Hi All,

My gear shift arm (on the steering column) allows me to access all settings but there is a fair abmount of fine-tuning involved. The indicator also
seems to correspond pretty well to the current gear and it does seem to stay put once located.

But I forsee some travel where I'll be inclined to shift gears more often and want to avoid any mishaps.

Can anyone tell me what needs to be refurbished to restore the detent to the transmission shift arm?

Thanks,
Jim
--
Jim Curran
1976 Palm Beach
Alexandria, OH

 

[Jim Hupy]

The detent is located at the transmission, so, the slack and looseness you
feel at the shift lever is a product of all the slop in each of the joints
between your hand and the detent ball/plunger. It can be tightened up by
rebushing everything, but, still might not compare to modern stuff. I drove
a military bus similar to the Flexible that was powered by a Buick straight
8 and a 5 speed Clark manual transmission. All the stuff was clear in the
rear of the bus. Really tough knowing what gear you were in, and when you
had engaged the next gear in the order. Lots of slop. As far as the gear
selector pointer goes, it is a string and spring and needle totally
separate from the shift linkage. Depending upon your seating location, it
will read all over the map. I don't know of a mechanical fix for that,
though some have adapted electronic position indicators from other vehicles
that suited their needs. I drive a lot of different coaches and no two are
exactly alike when it comes to gear selection. The more that you drive your
coach, the more familiar you will become with it's peculiarities. Not much
of an answer but, it's what I've got.
Jim Hupy
Salem, Or
78 GMC ROYALE 403

> Hi All,
>
> My gear shift arm (on the steering column) allows me to access all
> settings but there is a fair abmount of fine-tuning involved. The
> indicator also
> seems to correspond pretty well to the current gear and it does seem to
> stay put once located.
>
> But I forsee some travel where I'll be inclined to shift gears more often
> and want to avoid any mishaps.
>
> Can anyone tell me what needs to be refurbished to restore the detent to
> the transmission shift arm?
>
> Thanks,
> Jim
> --
> Jim Curran
> 1976 Palm Beach
> Alexandria, OH
>
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[johnny]

When I get into something different, I fire it up and feel the trans engage in reverse, let go in neutral, and engage in drive. When did the PRNDL
sequence become standard? Our '59 Buick TheSword had a beefed up PowerGlide with a PNDLR quadrant. You wanted to be careful looking for low if it
was moving.

--johnny
--
'76 23' transmode Norris upfit, 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
Braselton, Ga.

"Sometimes I wonder what tomorrow's gonna bring when I think about my dirty life and times" --Warren Zevon

 

[charles boyd]

Sir, the way I do it.... Scotch coach securely on level ground. Do not start. Put in neutral and have helper move lever just enough each way to
check for looseness from column thru cable to frame mounted lever adapter and on thru Rod to transmission lever. Replace or make bushing where
needed. To adjust lay on ground behind drivers tire and remove hair pin clip from trans shift lever to rod and let rod hang down. Make sure the
tranny lever is in neutral detent securely. Have helper put shifter lever in column neutral detent. Loosen lock nut on rod loose enough to slide and
put lever back on with hair clip then lighten lock nut. Start engine and Check shifter for all gears and startability in park and neutral. To adjust
indicator lower top of knee dash cover and lower enough to get to Phillips screw secured in a slot with U clip on column on right side. Loosen screw
and slide till indicator is centered on N when in neutral then tighten.

> Hi All,
>
> My gear shift arm (on the steering column) allows me to access all settings but there is a fair abmount of fine-tuning involved. The indicator
> also seems to correspond pretty well to the current gear and it does seem to stay put once located.
>
> But I forsee some travel where I'll be inclined to shift gears more often and want to avoid any mishaps.
>
> Can anyone tell me what needs to be refurbished to restore the detent to the transmission shift arm?
>
> Thanks,
> Jim

--
C. Boyd
76 Crestmont
East Tennessee

 

[charles boyd]

If by chance you have the column updated with the dimmer on the column the lower bearing housing was probably changed for dimmer rod bracket and
installer might have forgot to change the detent bar to 3sp and left 4 sp od detent in housing. This would give you an extra detent in column making
lower gears hard to find..
--
C. Boyd
76 Crestmont
East Tennessee

 

[john r. lebetski]

Also, "Lubricate Shift Linkage" is a periodic to do item on the factory maintenance schedule grid. I would bet some have never been done. That alone
may help let the trans detents feel more connected to your hand. You can get behind the rubber boot at the top of the shift cable with a spray can
extension spraying cable lube or chain lube Truthfully, mountain shifting will be 90% D to S moves, one click. You should only need 1st over 8%
continuous grades up/dn and that is just pull all they way down so no mistake can happen.
--
John Lebetski
Woodstock, IL
77 Eleganza II
Source America First

 

[jim curran]

Thanks for the info, everyone. I will have a look this weekend.

Jim
--
Jim Curran
1976 Palm Beach
Alexandria, OH