column shifter sticking

[joe40pac]

My 1940 Packard 110 column shifter gets stuck when shifting from 1st-2nd gear. Does anyone know what the problem might be?

[Guest imported_Speedster]

I would first determine if the problem was at the transmission or in the linkage, by disconnection the linkage at the transmission, Then move the levers to determine where it's binding. If it's in linkage then look for bad grommets at pivot pionts or something bent, but if it's in tranny then it will probably need to be pulled for internal inspection.

[joe40pac]

Thanks Rick I will try this. Also for your info. this problem mainly occurs when the vehicle is under load, i.e. accelerating through the gears. When the vehicle is parked it shifts smoothly.

[Guest imported_Speedster]

It's my understanding that is a common problem when shifting under load. My '29 Packard does the same thing sometimes, (have to skip 2nd and go into 3rd). But my '37 Senior does not have the problem as bad, but even with it I sometimes miss 2nd.

Just the Nature of the Beast, I guess. <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

[Guest bkazmer]

there was a good thread on this on the PAC site. The shifters on the 40-42 cars seem prone to problems as wear develops in the linkages and washers. I was once in the garage nose in stuck in first fiddling to get reverse to engage if I ever wanted to leave the garage. Try the linkage before pulling the tranny.

[bernardi]

A friend's 51 or 52 Packard occasionally stuck between gears. I opened the hood and just jiggled the levers at the bottom of the steering column until something snapped into place, and away we went. It acted something like a "snap-over-center" fastener. This was when the car was new.

[Dave Mitchell]

Your problem is almost certainly in the two links at the end of the lower end of the rod that sit on top of the steering column. These are castings and are subject to wear and excessive play that will eventually let them lock and you have to get out and shift them back to neutral by hand. You can shift very carefully and slowly and usually avoid a problem, but what you really need are new parts there. There is a slot in the casting arm, cut in the flat part that you will see is like a mirror image where the two sit together. There is a short pin that sits in that slot and wears it out. The early ones were pot metal and eventually they wore out and Packard replaced them with steel ones. Try to find NOS ones of those. There is an article in the dealer service letters about how to fix this problem. There are other high wear spots in the linkage, especially on the 39 and 40s, 41 is a little different and better, so you may have to find better ones or rebuild what you have. I had to do this with my 39 Six years ago. I was able to get all NOS for my 41. If you need photos or part numbers, let me know at packard12s@hotmail.com This is a really irritating problem, but you can fix it and you don't need to take out the trans. Good luck! Dave Mitchell

[joe40pac]

Thanks Dave for your information on the shift levers. I focused my efforts in that area and took them apart today and discovered that one spring washer was worn and broken. I used a thicker washer to take up the slack and have tested the vehicle and it is shifting fine.

Thanks for all your help.