is worn, it can be replaced. My son and I replaced the one on his 66 F100 CC, bought the collar a LMC parts
Dropping into reverse
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 258
Likes: 1
From: East SF Bay Area
Dropping into reverse
Here's what I believe is a fairly common problem I hope someone here can help me figure out how to fix. My column shift automatic has nasty tendancy to drop into reverse by itself. This is bad enough when the vehicle is running, but can also happen when it's parked and not running. My band-aid solution has been to prop the shifter lever into the park position when the truck is unattended. There's gotta be a way to fix this problem. Any ideas out there of what the problem is and how to fix it?
Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 8,062
Likes: 35
From: Central Oregon
No, it is not to bad. Took about 2 hours, give or take. My son is on here, you might want to PM him, he may have more information, His name on here is customcab66.
Where in the east bay are you?
Where in the east bay are you?
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 258
Likes: 1
From: East SF Bay Area
I'm in Concord.
BTW: I looked up the shift collar to see exactly which part thst is. As it turns out, I just painted my column because when I bought the truck, it came with a bare metal shift collar. I'm assuming from the looks of it having never known paint, the PO replaced it during his restoration of the truck, but the problem has been there since I got it & I'm sure before. Not that I disbelieve what you guys are saying, but are there in fact any other possible culprits to consider?
BTW: I looked up the shift collar to see exactly which part thst is. As it turns out, I just painted my column because when I bought the truck, it came with a bare metal shift collar. I'm assuming from the looks of it having never known paint, the PO replaced it during his restoration of the truck, but the problem has been there since I got it & I'm sure before. Not that I disbelieve what you guys are saying, but are there in fact any other possible culprits to consider?
Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 88,826
Likes: 787
From: Simi Valley, CA
Bolted to the lower section of the upper steering column flange is a half moon shaped detent aka shift gate (C5TZ-7A216-A).
The tab on the shift lever fits in between the individual gates. \ P I R I N 1 D I D I L /
Peeps put the shift lever into Park before setting the hand brake...this causes the truck to roll...just enough...that the parking pawl inside the trans locks up tight.
When this occurs, the shift lever has to be YANKED out of Park, and sooner or later, the gate between Park and Reverse snaps off.
The detent is obsolete, no Ford Dealer or obsolete parts vendor has any.
The "pot metal" shift collar does not wear, per se. It has an inner "bridge" that connects it to the shift tube. The bridge snaps in two, and when this occurs, the shift lever flops around.
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 258
Likes: 1
From: East SF Bay Area
Thanks ND! I suspected something like that. People also have a tendancy to pull straight down on the shuift lever rather than towards them & down.
Are a lot of others having this problem? It seems to me that '60s Fords have had a reputation for this problem for some time. Worst part is that the truck will roll forward out of park too. Mine tapped a late model honda I parked behind a few months ago before I could cross the street.
Are a lot of others having this problem? It seems to me that '60s Fords have had a reputation for this problem for some time. Worst part is that the truck will roll forward out of park too. Mine tapped a late model honda I parked behind a few months ago before I could cross the street.
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Cargo Master
Joined: Jul 2006
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From: Concord, CA
I snagged an NOS one from Green Sales over a year ago and showed it to a friend who is a decent machinist and so forth. First look at it and he says stamped steel. Come to think of it I need to show to someone else on the Hornet who has access to a high tech machine shop in the South Bay. The last time I gave him something, it was a roller for the Avenger's sliding pilot canopy, as two went missing. Came back with eight nice new ones for me. I wonder...
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Elder User
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 957
Likes: 3
From: Valley Center, CA
I've got the same thing happening with my old girl....I make it a habit to set the emergency
brake first (in neutral) then put it in park...works for now, but I know the repair is coming.
I'd like to hear about any repair solutions or fabs.
JBone
brake first (in neutral) then put it in park...works for now, but I know the repair is coming.
I'd like to hear about any repair solutions or fabs.
JBone
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 193
Likes: 0
From: Atlanta, Georgia
Same issue on my truck.....was running in park today and I ran inside the house to grab my phone. It popped into reverse, idled up the drive way (with the "parking brake" on) down the drive, into the neighbors yard, down a ditch, up a ditch and was heading towards a fire hydrant when I came out! I ran across the street, hopped in it just in time to prevent it going further down a ditch and into a hydrant. I then had to get a wrecker out to pull Bertha back out of their yard 
I can't wait to replace the column, transmission and everything on this thing.
I can't wait to replace the column, transmission and everything on this thing.
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 258
Likes: 1
From: East SF Bay Area
I feel you man! I've chased mine twice. Now I never trust it.
FYI: tbm3fan posted a picture of the culprit in another thread. https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...ft-detent.html
It looks to me like it wouldn't be that hard to trace & fab a replacement out of sheet metal using the picture as a guide. Of course I'll have to find & get to that little sucker first.
FYI: tbm3fan posted a picture of the culprit in another thread. https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...ft-detent.html
It looks to me like it wouldn't be that hard to trace & fab a replacement out of sheet metal using the picture as a guide. Of course I'll have to find & get to that little sucker first.
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 258
Likes: 1
From: East SF Bay Area
Ok, so I think I'm on to something regarding the root of this problem. I tore into the column today, and since I needed to install a new tirn signal switch anyway, I figured this was the time to investigate the problem with slipping out of park. I removed the shift detent, and to my surprise there was little to no wear to that part, only a light build up of dried grease as shown in this picture.
However, there was obvious wear to the internal end of the column shift lever where it engages the shift detent, as shown in this picture.
I now suspect that a tab on the internal end of the column shift lever has worn away, probably due to failure to pull the lever towards the driver when shifting out of park. I'd appreciate any thoughts from more experienced members as to the validity of my presumption.
However, there was obvious wear to the internal end of the column shift lever where it engages the shift detent, as shown in this picture.
I now suspect that a tab on the internal end of the column shift lever has worn away, probably due to failure to pull the lever towards the driver when shifting out of park. I'd appreciate any thoughts from more experienced members as to the validity of my presumption.
Elder User
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 957
Likes: 3
From: Valley Center, CA
Hey 66CustomCab,
I have the same issue, so I'm hanging on here to see how it ends up for you....
One question though, without looking at an original shift gate detent, how can
you be sure it's not worn. Interesting though to see you found a lot of wear on the
tab...I'll look forward to seeing your results.
One thought...could the detent plate be shimmed out slightly to make better contact with the tab??
Best,
Jason
I have the same issue, so I'm hanging on here to see how it ends up for you....
One question though, without looking at an original shift gate detent, how can
you be sure it's not worn. Interesting though to see you found a lot of wear on the
tab...I'll look forward to seeing your results.
One thought...could the detent plate be shimmed out slightly to make better contact with the tab??
Best,
Jason