Steering Column Shifter broken
Thread Starter
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Junior User
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 81
Likes: 0
From: Ottawa Ontario Canada
Steering Column Shifter broken
Hi,
I just got another '91. Had it towed home, got it started, tried to put it in gear and I guess I forced it a bit too hard and broke something in the steering column. The truck had sat for a long time and the linkage was rusty (along with the rest of the truck).
The shifter lever moves but does not move the shift rods in the engine compartment and under the truck. And it feels like something is broken. I really hope there is just a shear pin of some type. We took off the collar (one with the two screws) and noticed that there was a pop rivet on the column that moves with the shift lever. Would this be a type of shear pin? I was going to drill it out, but it didn't seem loose like it was broken, so decided to post here before I make things worse.
Any ideas?
Thanks.
I just got another '91. Had it towed home, got it started, tried to put it in gear and I guess I forced it a bit too hard and broke something in the steering column. The truck had sat for a long time and the linkage was rusty (along with the rest of the truck).
The shifter lever moves but does not move the shift rods in the engine compartment and under the truck. And it feels like something is broken. I really hope there is just a shear pin of some type. We took off the collar (one with the two screws) and noticed that there was a pop rivet on the column that moves with the shift lever. Would this be a type of shear pin? I was going to drill it out, but it didn't seem loose like it was broken, so decided to post here before I make things worse.
Any ideas?
Thanks.
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 134
Likes: 0
From: Idaho
Steering Column Shifter broken
Sounds like a similar problem brought up a while back.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/cgi-bin/dcforum/dcboard.cgi?az=show_thread&forum=DCForumID39&om=38 51
1989 Centurion Classic Bronco
[link:groups.yahoo.com/group/centurionconversions/|https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gallery/displaythumbnail.php?&photoid=3476&.jpg]<-< Centurion Club
1979 Bronco XLT
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gallery/displaythumbnail.php?&photoid=3923&.jpg
https://www.ford-trucks.com/cgi-bin/dcforum/dcboard.cgi?az=show_thread&forum=DCForumID39&om=38 51
1989 Centurion Classic Bronco
[link:groups.yahoo.com/group/centurionconversions/|https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gallery/displaythumbnail.php?&photoid=3476&.jpg]<-< Centurion Club
1979 Bronco XLT
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gallery/displaythumbnail.php?&photoid=3923&.jpg
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 81
Likes: 0
From: Ottawa Ontario Canada
Steering Column Shifter broken
Hi,
Thanks I had found that when I did a search, unfortunately I believe that is a problem with the actuator to engage the starter when the key is turned. That is not my problem, truck starts fine and key turns fine. The problem is that the column shift lever moves freely without changing the gear. I know something is broken, just not what. I guess I'll take the steering wheel off to find out what.
Greg.
Thanks I had found that when I did a search, unfortunately I believe that is a problem with the actuator to engage the starter when the key is turned. That is not my problem, truck starts fine and key turns fine. The problem is that the column shift lever moves freely without changing the gear. I know something is broken, just not what. I guess I'll take the steering wheel off to find out what.
Greg.
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 134
Likes: 0
From: Idaho
Steering Column Shifter broken
The ignition and colum shifter are are tied together in the colum by what looks like a "pickle fork",depending on how it breaks, you can lose the ignition or the shifter or both. BTW Thanks for the info about the disc conversion on the 10.25 a while back!
1989 Centurion Classic Bronco
[link:groups.yahoo.com/group/centurionconversions/|https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gallery/displaythumbnail.php?&photoid=3476&.jpg]<-< Centurion Club
1979 Bronco XLT
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gallery/displaythumbnail.php?&photoid=3923&.jpg
1989 Centurion Classic Bronco
[link:groups.yahoo.com/group/centurionconversions/|https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gallery/displaythumbnail.php?&photoid=3476&.jpg]<-< Centurion Club
1979 Bronco XLT
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gallery/displaythumbnail.php?&photoid=3923&.jpg
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 81
Likes: 0
From: Ottawa Ontario Canada
Steering Column Shifter broken
Hi,
Does the part you are talking about look like this:
(broken)
(new, but fuzzy picture
)
I replaced this on my manual transmission equipped truck. Does the one on an automatic some how move the shaft that controls the shift linkage?
The feeling of the column shift lever is all sloppy now, it moves freely (I have to turn the key before it will move), I know I broke something. When yours broke, was the shift lever sloppy feeling?
Thanks.
Does the part you are talking about look like this:
(broken)
(new, but fuzzy picture
)I replaced this on my manual transmission equipped truck. Does the one on an automatic some how move the shaft that controls the shift linkage?
The feeling of the column shift lever is all sloppy now, it moves freely (I have to turn the key before it will move), I know I broke something. When yours broke, was the shift lever sloppy feeling?
Thanks.
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 134
Likes: 0
From: Idaho
Steering Column Shifter broken
Didn't look quite like that broken or new.
But it definately controls the shift/ignition. Guy at the shop said, depending on where it breaks, some times The shifter will still work or the ignition will lock up. My ignition started to act up and had to wiggle the shifter to get it to work. Took the big dump in the parking lot of the shop that was going to work on it.
Got lucky on that one.I'm shure when you get in there that's what you will find.
1989 Centurion Classic Bronco
[link:groups.yahoo.com/group/centurionconversions/|https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gallery/displaythumbnail.php?&photoid=3476&.jpg]<-< Centurion Club
1979 Bronco XLT
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gallery/displaythumbnail.php?&photoid=3923&.jpg
But it definately controls the shift/ignition. Guy at the shop said, depending on where it breaks, some times The shifter will still work or the ignition will lock up. My ignition started to act up and had to wiggle the shifter to get it to work. Took the big dump in the parking lot of the shop that was going to work on it. Got lucky on that one.I'm shure when you get in there that's what you will find.1989 Centurion Classic Bronco
[link:groups.yahoo.com/group/centurionconversions/|https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gallery/displaythumbnail.php?&photoid=3476&.jpg]<-< Centurion Club
1979 Bronco XLT
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gallery/displaythumbnail.php?&photoid=3923&.jpg
Thread Starter
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Junior User
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 81
Likes: 0
From: Ottawa Ontario Canada
Steering Column Shifter broken
The above part was probably what broke on yours as well. I took the wheel off and that part is the same on the auto column (the picture above is from when I replaced mine on my manual transmission truck). The only thing this will affect for shifting is into and out of park.
Unfortunately for me this was not my problem. Attached to the shift lever is a tube that runs the length of the steering column. This tube turns when the shift lever moves, it has a rod on the end of it (in the engine compartment) which is attached to the shifter rods that go to the transmission. This tube had become rusty and broke (engine compartment end). The tube is no longer made by Ford.
So I will now have to try to fab something up or look for a column at a wrecker.
Thanks.
Unfortunately for me this was not my problem. Attached to the shift lever is a tube that runs the length of the steering column. This tube turns when the shift lever moves, it has a rod on the end of it (in the engine compartment) which is attached to the shifter rods that go to the transmission. This tube had become rusty and broke (engine compartment end). The tube is no longer made by Ford.
So I will now have to try to fab something up or look for a column at a wrecker.
Thanks.
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Thread Starter
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Junior User
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 81
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From: Ottawa Ontario Canada
Steering Column Shifter broken
Pictures are worth a thousand words
Steering column with "shift tube" removed
http://www.carter-engineering.com/images/truck/steeringcol1.jpg
Broken shift tube, this is the end that is inside the engine compartment.
http://www.carter-engineering.com/images/truck/steeringcol2.jpg
This is the location of the rivet that needs to be drilled out to remove the shift tube
http://www.carter-engineering.com/images/truck/steeringcol3.jpg
I think I can drill the rusted part (it is thicker near the bracket), and then run a few strips of metal back to the tube to secure it in place...
Steering column with "shift tube" removed
http://www.carter-engineering.com/images/truck/steeringcol1.jpg
Broken shift tube, this is the end that is inside the engine compartment.
http://www.carter-engineering.com/images/truck/steeringcol2.jpg
This is the location of the rivet that needs to be drilled out to remove the shift tube
http://www.carter-engineering.com/images/truck/steeringcol3.jpg
I think I can drill the rusted part (it is thicker near the bracket), and then run a few strips of metal back to the tube to secure it in place...
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 134
Likes: 0
From: Idaho
Steering Column Shifter broken
Bummer!
Is the tube tapered or can you cut it back to "good" metal and weld in a piece of new tubing to replace? Just thinking out loud.( usually gets me in trouble) Good luck!
1989 Centurion Classic Bronco
[link:groups.yahoo.com/group/centurionconversions/|https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gallery/displaythumbnail.php?&photoid=3476&.jpg]<-< Centurion Club
1979 Bronco XLT
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gallery/displaythumbnail.php?&photoid=3923&.jpg
Is the tube tapered or can you cut it back to "good" metal and weld in a piece of new tubing to replace? Just thinking out loud.( usually gets me in trouble) Good luck!
1989 Centurion Classic Bronco
[link:groups.yahoo.com/group/centurionconversions/|https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gallery/displaythumbnail.php?&photoid=3476&.jpg]<-< Centurion Club
1979 Bronco XLT
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gallery/displaythumbnail.php?&photoid=3923&.jpg
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 81
Likes: 0
From: Ottawa Ontario Canada
Steering Column Shifter broken
Yeah, I was able to cut it back and then lucked out and found an exhaust piece at the local autoparts store that had the correct diameters so that I was able to insert part of the new tube into the old, and then put the old bracket on the new tube. I had to grind out the old bracket to get it to fit over the new tube but not much. I used the poor mans welder (pop rivets) to hold things together. Shifts like a dream now
http://www.carter-engineering.com/images/truck/newcolumn1.jpg
http://www.carter-engineering.com/images/truck/newcolumn2.jpg
http://www.carter-engineering.com/images/truck/newcolumn3.jpg
All back together
http://www.carter-engineering.com/images/truck/newcolumn4.jpg
http://www.carter-engineering.com/images/truck/newcolumn1.jpg
http://www.carter-engineering.com/images/truck/newcolumn2.jpg
http://www.carter-engineering.com/images/truck/newcolumn3.jpg
All back together
http://www.carter-engineering.com/images/truck/newcolumn4.jpg
