Stiff shifting

Recently I have noticed that shifting from reverse to First is stiff. It was unusally loose and sometimes it would hang up in first. I have suspected the bushing in the arm that controls first/reverse movement. Any thoughts? How difficult is it to replace the bushing?

David

I have heard that the early column shift has a common linkage failure probem.

I think it was mainly the linkage bushings that wore out, if I remember correctly. There was an old thread on this forum, about a year ago, discussing that but I couldn't find it.

Try this, dated 12/04/04. Your memory is pretty good Rick and my apologies for making this thread so w-i-d-e

http://forums.aaca.org/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=UBB45&Number=258904&Forum=

Okay, the old thread was was talking about prewar cars but the problem may be similar. We need input from someone with more late '40s experience. <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

it may not be the same problem but you might want to look at the linkage as a start. my 49 shift was loose and jamming when i first bought it. the linkage arms are held together with a washer and cotter pin holding it on. i replaced all the washers and greased it which tighened it all up.

OK, here's my contribution to semi-tasteless humor on this forum:

Try saying the title of this thread aloud 5 times fast... <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I found that installing new transmission mounts changed the geometry if the shifter mechanism enough to notice a difference in gear selection feel. Some "slop" was eliminated and positive "in gear" feel for especially 1st and reverese was enhanced.

Things have got from bad to worse-I found Fri that I could not get it in reverse. I plan on removing the linkage to trans for 1st/rev I think and see how it feels. There is alot of "slop" in the linkage that connects to trans. Also the column shifter-any advise etc would be appreciated-everything is an adventure. I guess I need to breakdown and buy the Kanter service manual-any suggestions appreciated

David

Have you done a visual inspection of the linkage pivot points yet?

Hopefully it's an external problem and can be corrected easily.

I have done a visual inspection of the pivot points. This area has never been in great shape-nothing seems out of place or obvious out of place. When I try to shift to reverse or 2nd it feels as if hitting a restriction. I am suspecious of the column shifter-but I have no idea how it works. As I mentioned in earlier post the linkage to pivot to transmission(I believe 1st/rev)has alot of slop in it. It has about an inch play laterally at the transmission and the bushing at the pivot is obviously loose.

thks

David

Yes, a small amount of slop at each pivot point can Add up to a Big Slop.

Sounds like you will need to replace or repair all damaged components before proceeding. <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> The bushings may be completely gone?

I've never worked on '49 Tranny linkage. Is there supposed to be rubber bushings at pivot points? If so, I have used electrical type rubber grommets to replace linkage bushings, which may work in your case.

Another late update-the 3 levers from the column are not aligned in neutral. The one in the middle is out of alignment with the other 3 toward the drivers side of the car-by approx one inch.

What is involved with replacing the bushings? What about the point where the linkage connects to the trans-is there a bushing for this? Does all the pivot point and etc have to come out? I can send a picture if you give me an email address.

Again thks

David

I don't have manuals that cover '49, but I think you need the parts manual more than the service manual. It usually has exploded views of things like that, which will be more helpful. I would purchase both manuals, tho. I always get the manuals for every car I get, the first thing. <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Life can be 'Most Difficult' without them. <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

The Packard Parts book is available online at The Packard Library for the 41-47 Clipper which I beleive is pretty much the same car as the 22-23 Series cars. Perhaps it would help. You might have to load a freeware package that lets you open the book in Adobe. It is a very nice site BTW and a donation is requested but not mandatory. Hope it helps. The link to the site is; http://www.thepackardlibrary.org/

i agree with rick, your best bet is to get 48-54 parts manual which has an exploded view of the various parts of the gearshift and linkage, plates 132-135. also, the 46-50 service manual has a section on the operation of the gearshift explaining the actions the various parts of the linkage by shifting in gear.(last section on trans/clutch etc.

the trans levers do not have bushings at that end, just pins connecting the shaft levers which have washers and carter pins as i described in my earlier post. there are bushings at the idler lever end hooking to the gearshift shaft.

there are lots of places where slop can occur and there is a turnbuckle on the shaft levers which can be turned to adjust length which may help to tighten it up. the best thing to start is to put the car up on jack stands and have someone go through the gears and watch how they work and you may see where it is hanging.

i recently had a problem with the linkage jamming and then losing 2nd and reverse. the shift just slid easily forward and back. it turned out that someone had used safety wire to connect the trans lever to the shaft lever instead of a carter pin and it wore out and the shaft had popped off. an easy fix, lucky for me.

It may be a little less money, getting the Manuals from Faxon.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Packard-S...1QQcmdZViewItem

What do you need to open the djvu files-I have tried various files downloaded from internet-with no luck.

thks

David

I found a site to download the .djvu (pronounced daja-vu) plugin software? I tried it, and it brings in a modified version of the browser, when running a .djvu file, to allow turning pages of manual (Cool, Man, Cool <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />). I found shift linkage on pages 59 thru 64.

URL:

http://www.lizardtech.com/download/dl_options.php?page=doc

Thks it worked-The parts appear to be the same on the 47 vs 49.

David

If you find any badly worn rod-ends, maybe you could make sleeve-bushings from thin-wall brass tubing. It won't rust, it's fairly durable and you can get it at any hobby or hardware store.

After cutting a length of tubing to fit worn area, make a single split cut, length wise, to allow expansion over unworn part, then compress it to fit tightly in worn area of rod.

How does the shift mech work? I see a selector lever in between the 2 levers-when you pull back on shift lever-it either moves the 1st/rev or 2nd/3th? I hope to see what is happening this PM

again thks

I can figure out how the 2 rear rods (with turnbuckles) operate, to select gears (fairly standard setup), but it's the front Idler-rod that I'm not sure about? I think it is there to allow for engine arc-movement (rock) of the bell-crank assembly, but It appears that the Idler-rod could easily allow Unwanted movement and slop in the linkage. Pictures don't show what the outer end of Idler-rod mounts to but I assume it mounts to frame, to keep the top of bell-crank assembly the same distance from Steering-column at all times. So a rough idleing engine or bad motor-mounts could bend or ware out the ends of the Idler-rod real quick. <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Well-I disconnected the 1st/rev lever to trans. The bushing was not even in the hole that connects to shift lever mech. I am going to get some washers and a cotter pin(a piece of wire was in the hole). When I disconnected the 1st/rev-the shift mech worked ok-first it was loose then it got tight-not sure of why unless it needs lub.

Again thanks

David

Yes, I think So. It doesn't have a big variety of documents. <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

I could only find the '41-'47 and the '55-'56 Parts manuals listed. <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

I think the Daja-vu Graphics Reader is just a modified version of the Adobe Acrobat Reader, but it does seem to load and run faster than the Adobe. <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Is this "library" site the one that <span style="font-style: italic">Roj22</span> was talking about (som emonths ago)? </div></div>

I don't know but I was buying a Packard part from a Mr. Dave Schumacher in CA. and he told me about it. I think it is his site and he is trying to build it. There are a few Service Letters and the Clipper Parts book but as yet not much else.

Back on the subject-I reassembled the bushing with extra washers-still alot of slop in the 1st/rev lever to trans-I was able to get into reverse once and was able several times to get a normal 1-2-3 shift. It still is not right-I ordered new bushings from Max Merritt. While on the phone the guy tells me it probable is the shift selector that is on the shift column. Anyone know how big of a job it is to get to the shift selector?

thks

David

In an effort to close this out. 1. At the packardclub.org there is an post regarding this issue for 22/23 series. 2. There is a lub hole in the eng compartment in the shifter column about half way between steering gear and firewall-that needs lub-probably on all packard column shifter 3. the bushings were replaced on both trans arms. It is shifting better now than ever.

thanks for that tip on the lube point 49packard. i'll have to lube mine and see if it feels different.