About a month ago, I purchased my first Ford; a '69 F-250, 2WD, Ranger Camper Special with a 390 2v.

On my fifth time driving the vehicle, the previously sloppy shifter (automatic, on the tree) tore, sticking the truck in Drive.

I bought a replacement shift collar from LMC, it arrived, and I installed it today.

After replacement, I noticed that the shift position was off.
While in park, the indicator would mark 'R'.
While Reverse, the indicator would mark 'N'.
Essentially, the marker was one position right of the actual position.

I attempted to adjust the shift linkage to correct for this, and then I found a problem.

After adjusting the linkage so that the indicator corresponded to the actual gear, I noticed that if I shifted counter-clockwise passed Park slightly, the starter would activate, as long as the truck was On.

After tweaking the linkage for a more accurate 'on marker' position, I found that I couldn't switch the truck On, and have the vehicle in Park without the starter engaging. Putting a slight pressure on the shift-lever (clockwise) will alleviate this. Unfortunately, reverse was very close to this position, and has made the vehicle unsafe to start.

I have cleaned the ignition switch. If I reset the shift linkage back to the 'one-marker-off' position, there is no problem, other than the indicator being incorrect.

What is causing this? Is the safety switch worn, and/or shorting?

The truck will not attempt to start while in Neutral, which I find odd.

Thank you.

 

The neutral safety switch is on the bottom of the column, under the dash. It is on the top side, but you can see it when you look. It is held on by two small screws that you can loosen and adjust it slightly either way. This works the neutral safety and back up lights.

I'm not sure why your truck was trying to start?? The switch only cuts the power to the starter when not in park. It shouldn't be able to activate the starter by itself(you need to turn the key to start to give it actual power)

My '67 and '69 were out of adjustment and I used to have to hold the lever UP slightly to get it to start. I adjusted the switch and took care of it.

 

Zelus Welcome to FTE.

+1 on FT, your issue is in the nss as described. It is adjustable by loosening the hold down screws, sliding it as needing & re-tightening.

As you posted it works, the selector just has to be moved to the correct position. As long as you are holding pressure on the brake pedal you are not in any kind of danger when starting the truck while finding the correct position.

I converted my 66 to auto maybe 12 years ago, never installed the nss. My truck will start in gear. It is not a problem, because I am aware that it will.

I think I would try to adjust it to N then see if it will work in P as well. Should take you about 10-15 min. to figure it out.




John

 

Be careful of the little spring steel arm that clips onto your column and activates the NSS, it is a pita to replace. If need be, you can wire the NSS selector all the way left and it will start in any/all gears...if you need your truck while waiting for parts. Some folks bypass it altogether...a quick wiring bypass at the switch...you just have remember that it's hot in all the gears. The switch activating your starter sounds like a bad ignition switch, I'd replace the beast.

 

C7TZ-7A247-A .. NSS (Motorcraft SW600} / Obsolete / Available from autoparts stores.

Applications: 1967/77 F100/350.
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DOTZ-7B097-B (replaced DOTZ-7B097-A & C5TZ-7B097-A) .. NSS Selector Lever / Obsolete

Applications: 1965/77 F100/350.

This spring steel lever has a knife blade end that fits into the NSS and is notorious for snapping off.

GREEN SALES CO. in Cincinnati OH has 22 = 800-543-4959.

CARPENTER NOS OBSOLETE PARTS in Concord NC has 3,088 = 800-476-9653.
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D1AZ-11572-C (replaced C8AZ-11572-A) .. Ignition Switch-Comes with a pigtailed wire/plug (Motorcraft SW-1054) / Available from Ford.

MSRP: $66.40 // FTE sponsor partsguyed.com (Horizon Ford in Seattle) price: $43.82.

Applications: 1968/69 F100/750 & Econoline / 1970 F100/750 & Econoline before serial number G90,001 / 1968/69 FoMoCo Passenger Cars.

The original switch (C8AZ-11572-A) was a POS, shorted out and caught fire!

D1AZ-11572-C is the FoMoCo service part replacement switch. The pigtailed plug fits to the switch, then its wires have to be spliced into the wiring loom.

If you don't see any evidence of this when removing the switch, it's the original POS.

Some were replaced under warranty, some were replaced after the fact "customer pay." But some were never replaced, because there was no such thing as NHTSA mandated recalls back then.

It was up to the dealers to notify their customers. Some did, some did not.