I want to fix my column shifter on my 79. The lever flops forward and back on its own -- either the detent spring is broken or missing.

I called around and learned that the springs are no longer available. I plan to rip the column open this weekend and would like to have the right spring on hand to finish the job on the spot. Any suggestions on what types of springs will work/what size? Where do you buy springs?

I know Home Depot and Lowes don't carry many. I don't expect my local mom and pop store to have a drawer full of sizes either.

Thanks in advance.

Mike
79 F250 Lariat Extended Cab 4x4
74 Bronco Sport

 

I may be missing something on this, but on my 78 the detents are in the lever going into the C6 transmission. In other words, my shifter moves freely until connected, then it works fine.

 

I may not have explained this clearly... the way the shfiter should work is that you should pull it towards you, select your gear, and when you let go, it should spring back.

The "towards you/spring back" action is not happening. It flops forward and back. As for gear selection, that works fine. I spoke to a column rebuilder on the phone yesterday and he said there's a spring in the shifter cup that presses against the lever. When asked how he would fix it, he said he would keep trying springs until he found one that worked -- noting that new Ford ones are no longer available. He wants $175 to replace the spring!

 

Ouch! Now I know what you are talking about. Sorry, no good ideas except getting some rough measurements and getting the local auto parts to let you rummage around in the bins. GL

 

Stanz,
This is a common problem. I've seen the spring, as I have dissassembled more than my share of columns. It should be easy enough to scavenge one from the junkyard, but that potentially destroys an entire column for someone else.
I have seen springs that could work. You are going to have to dissassemble and pull whats left of the spring out and go to Home Depot for comparison. The spring is short and very stiff. The hardware section should carry some generics. You'll have to cut them down. I'd use a cutting wheel so you don't deform the coil too much.
What does the shifter collar look like? Generally they are worn where the roll pin goes through. You should consider replacing it while your in the middle of this mess.
Good luck,
KingFisher

 

The roll pin on the collar is not worn. All of the parts yards in Philly are late models, I have to go quite a distance to get to an older yard, and they most likely won't let me take a spring without the whole column.

I'll see what Home Depot has to offer. I dread taking it apart and not have the parts on hand to put it back together right away. Probably won't get to it this weekend.

 

Before I tear it apart, can you tell me how the spring is supposed to be positioned? I assume that it's supposed to sit behind the lever (towards the front of the vehicle) therefore pushing the lever towards the dash when released. Is this correct?

Even in my shop manual, this is not clear in the diagram.

Thanks in advance.

Mike

 

The spring is about an inch long and 3/8" in diameter.

 

Thanks Mil1on. I just sent you a note with my contact info. I'm still unclear on how they install. Any detail you can provide would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks,
Mike

 

They fit/slide in a hole on the column collar.

They have tons of spring force.

 

So I don't take the wheel off? I just take the lever out, install the spring and then somehow get the lever on top of the spring? Sounds like quite a challenge.

I got the rubber shifter insulator collar from NPD, and it seems like a tight fit. Do I definitely need this too?

 

Hey, My linkage is messed up in my '79 150. I tried to get into my column today and got held up by that "rolling pin" in the shifter (Oh, and by trying to take my steering wheel off) and as a matter of fact my shifters' spring must me broke or gone too. Because, it doesn't spring back when put into gear. I was wondering how that worked............

Just wondering, if my problem with my linkage could be at the shifter. And if so, how would I take the plastic off from around the shifter and remove the rolling pin. I couldn't find nothing on this in my repair manuel.

My linkage has been messed up since I let my 17 year old cousin take it 4 wheelin' in the mountains. He destroyed my transmission and put another one in he got from a junk yard. The "rod" that comes down from the steering column near my brake reservoir, bolts onto the linkage near the tranny only grasps 3 to 4 gears, then it'll slip. The rod looks like it might be 16-18 long. It has like a track on one end, the bolt can slide through.I tried loosening it up, and torqing it down. I'm thinking the linkage on the new tranny doesnt match up to the rod,.....But it look/appears like it's perfect.

Any help with this......... Am I right, can the rod match up? And, if not can I buy a different one, and if so, what do tell my advance auto person...

Thanks for the time and with any help!!!

 

I have the same problem as stanz. The shift lever on the column just flops back and forth. I was planning to take apart my column possibly tomorrow to take a look at that and a couple of other things: the turn signal doesn't turn off anymore (I know that's an easy fix with parts); thought it would be a good time to inspect the shifter collar too. Actually, might be a good time to put a nicer steering wheel on at the same time (better order that puller).

 

Okay guys.
Here's the scoop.

To get at this spring you need to remove the:
steering wheel
Turnsignal lever
Turn signal switch out partially
Remove the roll pin to the shifter lever.

Is the hole on the shifter cowl worn out like an oval ?
Do you have Tilt or the reg column ?
If you have the tilt, you need to remove the entire column to break it down.
On The reg column you need to remove the cowl by going in the back of the collar with an allen wrench.

Good luck

 

Finally started to look at this today. 'Course, the shop manual doesn't seem to tackle this area in quite as much detail as one would hope.

The two problems I'm suffering from are: 1) as mentioned previously in this thread, the shifter lever just flops around; 2) the column shift sleeve (I think Mil1ion is calling it a shifter cowl) rotates kinda freely so that I'm never sure what the shifter has selected other than if I'm all the way to the left I'm in park....and for some reason or another when I'm in Drive the indicator is showing "2" instead of "D." This is annoying of course. Any idea what's causing that?

Finally, because I have to notice things (arggh) I noticed that the Neutral Safety Switch had its wires clipped. Any hints on replacing the switch and where I might find the origin point for the wires (there's nothing hanging down around the switch).