Shifter lever question

[Rob_P]

OK, so being a newbie i am trying to wait until my manuals arrive before i start breaking stuff. That approach doesn't seem to be working.
I could not get the car into 3rd gear, 1,2,4 and R were not having a problem.

Also, the shifter was hard to manage, felt sloppy and not very cooperative.

I read the previous post started by paul "THe 70 won't go in Fourth Gear' and i was waiting for my manuals to arrive before checking the selector forks.

In preperation, i removed the shift lever, what i noticed was the cover that holds the lever down seemed to be what was keeping the tranny from getting to 3rd. I was able to reach third with the cover off (while doing my best to keep the lever down)
Also, the lever was moving fairly easily.
So i spun the cover 120 degrees and re bolted it down, here is my question. everything works fine if I do NOT tighten the cover down all the way, too tight and it will hold the ball from turning, i loosened it and the tranny shifts like a dream, well, not quite a dream, but much better then before.

How tight is that cover supposed to be?
Is this normal? or is my shifter lever not low enough?

Thanks,
Rob

 

[rick_ingram]

There should be spring washers (also called Thackery washers I've recently learned) under each of the three bolts that hold the shift lever retaining ring to the transmission. Are these washers present? Perhaps without, too much force is being exerted onto the shifter ball, not allowing for a smooth shift motion.

The shifter itself has a small ball on the bottom of it that fits into a nylon bushing. If the nylon bushing is not intact, the shifter becomes VERY sloppy. If the shifter is not pushed all the way into the nylon bushing, it is nearly impossible to install the retaining ring.

HTH

 

[Rob_P]

Thanks Rick,
I am defintely missing one of the thatckery washers, and i can't remember if the other two washers were actual thackery wahsers or not.

that gives me some good stuff to look for...off to the garage.

 

[AlanT]

Along with the special washers are special bolts with a shoulder to keep them from being tightened down too hard.

Alan T

 

[rick_ingram]

I forgot about those, Alan! Thanks!