I've got an 84 F250 4x4 with a New Process 435 transmission...I'm trying to replace the clutch, however I'm having a bear of a time just trying to get the shift lever off of the transmission!!!!

All of the reference material I have read says there is supposed to be an externally threaded retaining cap that you simply unscrew and boom -- the lever slides out...Sounds easy to me--but when I took off the shift boot inside the cab, there was no retaining cap whatsoever, no stub shaft, no nothing...the housing holding the shift assembly is completely one piece and there are two screw-like retaining pins that appear to hold the ball and spring assembly to the cover, but they are not bolts or allen screws so there's no way to grab ahold and give them a turn...

Do I have to remove the entire shift housing??? and if not, how do I get the shift lever out????

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated--thanks in advance....

Joe

 

I tried to get my shift lever off when I changed my clutch out, too. I lucked out by having the truck up on a lift. I think you'll get better results if you just take the shift lever housing off. Just cover up the opening with a lint free rag and place the housing on a very clean surface. Sorry I can't help you more, but if you want to get it done....

-Kerry

 

There is a metal cap that goes around the base of the shifter, it fits inside of the shift tower and around the base of the shifter. The cap actually hooks to those 2 pins that you see that go in from the sides. Push down on this cap and turn it CCW about a quarter of a turn. Then the shifter will pull out. After you do it, you will be amazed at how easy it is.

HTH

Roger Lane

 

Thanks Roger...I read your message, got excited and gave it a try--I completely see what you're talking about and can even see the channels the retaining pins twist into on the side of the cap--unfortunately I couldn't get enough down pressure on the cap to turn it into the channels--any tips on that?

Thanks for your help...

Joe

 

I should have mentioned that. What I did was use a PVC connector that fit on top of that metal cap. I think it was a 1 or 1 1/2 inch coupler. Then I could get enough down force on it to release. You really have to push on it to get it to turn, but it will come loose.

Good luck.

Roger Lane

PS: The reason I figured this out was, I bought a used NP435 for my truck. The person I got it from did not know how to remove the shifter, so they torched it off about 3 inches up from the trans.

 

Ok, I'm going to give that a whirl tomorrow morning before work...I really need to get the truck back on the road before I start putting too many miles on my mustang...

Thanks for the help--I'll let you know how it goes...

Joe

 

Worked like a charm...thanks again


Joe

 

I will have to remember that... should I ever need to get that tranny out for a.... ZF 5speed!

Thanks for cluing me in Roger. I didn't have any time to figure that out when I did my clutch.

-Kerry

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 10-Apr-02 AT 00:53 AM (EST)]The thing that threw me off initially is that the cap itself is the same spherical shape as the spring retainer and looks nothing like what they show in my reference material--I guess you really can't believe everything you read... (and I thought my dad was kidding around all those years)

Joe