Trans linkage adjustment

**dkutz** · February 4th, 2021, 06:29 PM

Tips on adjusting shifter linkage? Ou 62 falcon is difficult to shift into second, can do it by double clutching, or waiting...for ever. Also will not down shift into second. synro not working? Slight grind into third. Think it might be out of adjustment from the new motor mounts moving everything up? And tricks or just trial and error?

**Luva65wagon** · February 4th, 2021, 10:19 PM

Shoot, you know, I've made adjustments to these and it's been so long I can't recall how best to advise.

My best recollection is to put the shifter in neutral, make sure the two levers near the steering box are aligned, loosen the bolts holding the shift rods onto the transmission shift levers and make sure they are in their neutral position as well, then when all the levers on the column and the transmission are in neutral - tighten the nuts to lock them in place. If one of the levers on the transmission is not fully into its neutral when the shift levers on the column are in their neutral position, or vice versa, the cross-over from one lever to the other will not happen smoothly. No way to assess the syncro's on 2-3 until you know the shift lever crossover points are not the cause.

**dkutz** · February 5th, 2021, 04:57 PM

looked at it again today. The is no hole in the levers on the column. But, in neutral bot trans levers are also in neutral and they are loose, no tension. There is a lot of slop in the linkage on the tranny end so maybe that? Just don’t know anymore.

**Luva65wagon** · February 5th, 2021, 09:46 PM

Yeah, there are no alignment holes on column shifter. Just as long as the levers on the column are aligned with each other and the levers on the transmission are in their neutral spots - that's about all you can do for cross-over. 4-speed, floor shifters have a hole you put a pin in to align neutral.

You may have syncho's going, but the oddity is that all was well before. Perhaps give the clutch rod a half-turn at a time to give you more disengagement. You did go through the clutch bits, so it might not be releasing fully. I'm having some difficulty with this since it doesn't present itself with any 1st and Reverse grinding, which neither have synchos. Lastly, make sure your gear oil level is correct. Pull the upper side plug and the level of 90-W gear oil should be just at the lower edge of that plug.

**dkutz** · February 5th, 2021, 10:36 PM

Originally Posted by Luva65wagon

Yeah, there are no alignment holes on column shifter. Just as long as the levers on the column are aligned with each other and the levers on the transmission are in their neutral spots - that's about all you can do for cross-over. 4-speed, floor shifters have a hole you put a pin in to align neutral.

You may have syncho's going, but the oddity is that all was well before. Perhaps give the clutch rod a half-turn at a time to give you more disengagement. You did go through the clutch bits, so it might not be releasing fully. I'm having some difficulty with this since it doesn't present itself with any 1st and Reverse grinding, which neither have synchos. Lastly, make sure your gear oil level is correct. Pull the upper side plug and the level of 90-W gear oil should be just at the lower edge of that plug.

the clutch adjustment is all the way out.. and I topped off the trans fluid before we put it all. Back together. So frustrated right now. Car is practically undrivable.

**Luva65wagon** · February 5th, 2021, 11:19 PM

So, engine off. You can smoothly go through the gears? Quickly?

Where is the clutch adjustment you are making? The Falcon only had one adjustment from the factory, which is the rod coming through the floor to the Z-bar. Did somebody add an adjustable push rod at the transmission? If you are still only using the factory adjustment at the Z-bar, and it's all the way out and the clutch is engaging and disengaging (you should be able to stall the engine), that would indicate something worn somewhere. Or the wrong part in the loop. That Z-bar pivot should be about mid-way along the thread travel so you have... adjustment.

On FB you indicated your wife had a different experience than you. What is the current experience?