Shift lever still will not Move !

Tiny
DIESELMAOYEN
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  • 1987 FORD F-150
Replaced stop light switch (finally found one) Shift lever still will not move ! Un-hooked linkage at tranny and it shifts fine so I assume tranny ok. Seems to be bound up on the column. No resistance on lever when you pull it back to put in gear(used to have resistance) Could something be broken where shift arm attaches to column?
Thursday, March 5th, 2009 AT 7:11 PM

11 Replies

Tiny
JAMES W.
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It sounds like the column is not letting the shift fork move lets try disconnecting the cable/linkage and then move the shifter with the ket on. Here is a diagrams to help us see what's going on. Let me know
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Thursday, March 5th, 2009 AT 8:14 PM
Tiny
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Don't see any cable. Think I have rod linkage
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Thursday, March 5th, 2009 AT 8:30 PM
Tiny
JAMES W.
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OK, if you have a rod linkage, it should be under the hood attached to a lever on the steering column next to the firewall. Does this lever/rod move when you move the shifter?
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Thursday, March 5th, 2009 AT 9:16 PM
Tiny
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Yes
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Thursday, March 5th, 2009 AT 9:22 PM
Tiny
JAMES W.
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OK, I'm trying to picture this. You say the rod attached to the shift arm under the hood is connected and moving up and down. Correct?
Is the rod under the hood, attached to the steering column, going back to the trans selector arm move back and forth?
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Friday, March 6th, 2009 AT 12:46 AM
Tiny
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It DOES NOT MOVE UP N DOWN, also the rod attached to the steering column going back to the trans selector does not move. By moving I mean the arm has a little play in it;you can wiggle shifter lever and it in turn wiggles the arms (rods) on the steering column
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Friday, March 6th, 2009 AT 8:26 AM
Tiny
JAMES W.
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OK, now we're getting somewhere. Apparently, the socket that your shift lever fits into, inside the column is broken. This is more common on manual shifts than automatics, but it does happen. You can buy replacement parts, pull the steering wheel, signal switch and key assembly to repair it, but it's a miserable job. I would highly recomend buying a used column and replacing the entire unit. Being an '87 truck, you should have no problem finding a used on at a reasonable price and probably even match the color. Let me know'
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Friday, March 6th, 2009 AT 12:44 PM
Tiny
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Have wheel pulled and all the guts out. If I decided to replace parts how hard would it be now that I have all the guts out?It appears that a 1/4 inch wide flat rod might be the problem? When we pull the center silver plate like object below the tilt pinion(?) It will shift thru the gears;looks like the lil flat rod might be bent or is binding
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Friday, March 6th, 2009 AT 2:05 PM
Tiny
JAMES W.
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If you have all that apart already, your 1/2 way there. What you need to do is determine what's broke and what you need to replace. If it's the shift collar, they are readily available, but come unpainted. If it's the shaft going through the column, you have to pull the column out and trar the whole thing apart. A big job. Good luck. Personally, I'd change out the whole column.
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Friday, March 6th, 2009 AT 2:47 PM
Tiny
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Thank you Mr. Weizel for all your time and patience; you guys do a really fantastic job answering questions from people like me that don't have a clue in heck what is wrong! Again thank you n when I get a few xtra bucks I will donate more than the $10 I have donated. Gonna get a different column and put that in.
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Friday, March 6th, 2009 AT 3:17 PM
Tiny
JAMES W.
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Hey, don't appoligize for not knowing somethihg, none of us know it all. We weren't born with knowledge, we all started out asking questions just like you have. Best to ya', anything else, you know where to find us.
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Friday, March 6th, 2009 AT 8:23 PM

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