I am a newbie here. I just bought a 1970 F100 with three on the tree. The transmission is very sensitive. One wrong move going from first to second and the transmission freezes up. You then have to get under the hood and adjust two rods to get the transmission into neutral.

I have heard from a couple of guys that this was a common problem for this truck. I have also talked to a knowledgable Ford guy who said tha the hasn't heard of it before. Is it a common problem? Is there anthing that can be done (short of going to a floor shifter) to mak the problem go away?

Many thanks.

BRS F100

 

First of all, a great big WELCOME! to FTE! This is one of the best truckstops on the Information Highway.

Now to your issue:

This is indeed a common problem.
The fix is usually several steps.
1. Replace the rubber bushings in the shifter levers on the steering column. Replace any additional parts with too much slop or play in them.
2. Adjust the linkage according to the books.
3. If necessary, replace the shift collar and or the inner shift tube - but that isn't often necessary.

Good luck, and again, WELCOME!

 

Welcome! You will find all kinds of helpful info here and maybe a few new friends! Don't forget to check your front cab mounts. They rot away and cause all kinds of havoc with 3 on the tree shifters, steering and front fender alignment.

 

OOPS, double post. How did that happen???

 

Good reminder on the cab mounts.
If you do not replace/repair them, the cab will continue to sag and other problems will begin to mainfest themselves.
As for the shifting, if the cab mounts are gone or going and are the cause of the shifting problems, adjusting the shift linkage will at least be a temporary fix, until they settle some more.
Where are you in MD? I am in Millersville.

 

Thanks for the responses. My mechanic has already tried to tighten up the looseness but there is still some sensitivity in the transmission. It still jams up occasionally en route from first to second. Should I have more work done, or is this just something you have to live with if you have this truck?

Thanks agian for the replies and info.

BRS F100

(Cascade, MD)

 

No, you shouldn't have to live with it.
If it jams up, the linkage is not moving the gear cluster for first gear fully out of position before moving the next gear cluster over, and the gear shifter levers inside the transmission jam up.
This is caused by sloppy linkage, linkage out of adjustment, or a badly worn transmission.
There should be NO sloppiness in the linkage at all, when in any gear. My money is on the looseness in the linkage, or in the adjustment.
The adjustment is done with a drill bit or pin inserted into and through both of the 2 shift levers at the steering column, then the shift linkage is adjusted accordingly.
I would park the truck on a level surface, with it in 1st gear. (Don't forget to set the brake!)
Under the truck, move the linkage forward and backward, up and down - there should be NO slop at all. Ease of movement such as rotation, yes, but not any slop.
If you have any slop, the worn parts, usually the bushings, need to be replaced.
Try it again in 2nd gear.
If it has no slop in 1st or 2nd, then you need to get the factory manual, and have the linkage adjusted properly.
If these 2 fail to rectify the problem, then the next step is to look at the steering column shift tube and shifter collar - but those are not often bad.

 

Thanks for all the helpful info. We'll give it a try!

 

My 3-speed always had a tendancy to hang between gears like that. Even after converting to floor shift I had the same problem.

 

it sounds like a linkage problem as banjopickers had mentioned...i had a similar problem on a 3 on the tree in a 68 i once had..i ended up replacing all the bushings and it fixed it

 

My mechanic could not find "new" bushings to replace the worn bushings on the truck. So he got some bushings off a junker that he says looked better than the ones I had. Is there a place that sells "new" bushings that would work on a 1970 F100?


Thanks.

BRS F100

 

I found mine at JOHN'S F-FUN HUNDREDS (https://www.johnsf100.com/6772shop/index.htm) in the left pane under "shifter, 3 speed" (https://www.johnsf100.com/6772shop/cat60.htm)

good luck
FreakinFord

 

blue oval part should have them,if not i know dc has them

 

Hope you get it working! These old trucks are very well known for this kind of problem.

 

To my72Ford: Can you tell me who "dc" is?

Thanks.