I replaced my detent plate recently. I still have to wiggle the shifter to get the car to start. is there an additional adjustment that needs to be made?
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Detent plate replacement
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You may also have to replace the shift lever. Even with a new detent plate is the shift lever is worn it will not lock in park correctly. If the lever feels like it's locking correctly then you can try adjusting the neutral switch under the steering column.
JohnJohn Pizzi - Squarebirds Administrator
Thunderbird Registry #36223
jopizz@squarebirds.org 856-779-9695
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Detent plate replacement
Yes, it is possible that the shift tube selector ring/arm at the bottom of the steering column is worn after all these years and needs to be replaced. Here is what mine looked like. You can see the wear around the ring and in the notch. After some 50 years of use, it can wear and cause problems.Attached Files
Ray Clark - Squarebirds Administrator
The Terminator..... VTCI #11178 ITC #6000 Yellow Mustang Registry (YMR) #12188
Contact me via Private Message for my email address, or Call (Cell) 210-875-1411
https://www.squarebirds.org/picture_gallery/TechnicalResourceLibrary/trl.htm
Faye's Ovarian Cancer Memorial Website.
https://faye.rayclark.info/index.htmlComment
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Selector Ring Arm
Over the years I have replaced my shift lever, shift collar and detent plate all helped a little. But replacing the shift ring arm made all the difference! I finally have eliminated all the slop and each gear position is usable. Big job but worth it.
Neil
CUUL59 ConvertibleNeil
1959 Turquoise Convertible “CUUL59”Comment
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Over the years I have replaced my shift lever, shift collar and detent plate all helped a little. But replacing the shift ring arm made all the difference! I finally have eliminated all the slop and each gear position is usable. Big job but worth it.
Neil
CUUL59 ConvertibleLast edited by Rock&Roll Firebird; May 12, 2013, 09:05 AM.Comment
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Shift Arm Replacement Process
You asked what's involved and it's a pretty big job. In a nutshell;
You will need to pull the steering wheel, then the shift collar (replace this if it is at all worn around the roll pin), disconnect the turn signal switch and neutral switch wires (label the wires you disconnect from, important to also mark the position of the neutral switch before loosening it), then loosen the firewall weather seal.
Next you will disconnect the steering column from the clamp under the dash. The shift tube and selector arm will now slide out leaving only the steering shaft in place. Before you put the news arm on, be sure that it fits over tube and locking lug with just enough clearance to allow it to slide up and down smoothly, but not as loose as the old one! This is critical.
While you have it apart, you should also replace the shift detent plate if you haven't already. A new shifter lever arm and roll pin would make it all the more likely to achieve the results you would be happy with. I did all this in about 3-4 hours...only a little cursing, actually a lot.
You can contact me offline if you have additional questions (cuul59@gmail.com)
Neil
'59 ConvertibleNeil
1959 Turquoise Convertible “CUUL59”Comment
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Shift Tube Selector Arm Replacement
Thanks to Neil~cuul59, and his information on replacing his shift tube selector arm on his '59 Squarebird, there IS now a technical item on this. I took his information, added some pix, and just put it into the Technical Resource Library (TRL). You will find it under the Steering Wheel section. Thank you, Neil for the documentation. It will be there for posterity for others to use. As always, you can access the TRL by just clicking the link under my signature on any post you see of mine. It will take you right to the TRL.
Ray Clark - Squarebirds Administrator
The Terminator..... VTCI #11178 ITC #6000 Yellow Mustang Registry (YMR) #12188
Contact me via Private Message for my email address, or Call (Cell) 210-875-1411
https://www.squarebirds.org/picture_gallery/TechnicalResourceLibrary/trl.htm
Faye's Ovarian Cancer Memorial Website.
https://faye.rayclark.info/index.htmlComment
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Here is what I have been told by others. This problem can be a combination of several problems that have developed over years of wear and tear on parts. One is the Detent Plate. Another is a worn tip on the end of the shift lever at the steering wheel. Another is a worn connection in the round cup/collar that the shift lever screws into. Another is adjusting the Neutral Switch. Another is a worn Shift Tube Selector Arm. Another is a worn or missing rubber (as I recall) bushing down where the rod that comes off the Shift Tube Selector Arm and runs to the drivers side (as I recall) of the tranny, which attaches to the tranny and shifts it into the PRNDL positions.
Frank, one of our Down Under members, has had many years of experience working on the COM tranny and this problem. He swears that often it is a worn Shift Tube Selector Arm that is the culprit here. But it could also be the other areas too.
I hope this helps. Others might be able to amplify on this too.
a) can anyone please specify what is this part that Ray is writing about in one of his previos posts - '...worn or missing rubber (as I recall) bushing down where the rod that comes off the Shift Tube Selector Arm and runs to the drivers side (as I recall) of the tranny...'?
b) is the detent plate that can be ordered in this thread the same as this one? I have a feeling that the first one has slightly different shaped holes and maybe because of that it might work better (as it's mentioned in the thread)?Comment
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a) can anyone please specify what is this part that Ray is writing about in one of his previos posts - '...worn or missing rubber (as I recall) bushing down where the rod that comes off the Shift Tube Selector Arm and runs to the drivers side (as I recall) of the tranny...'?
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I will send Ray an illustration.
If you have a 49/59 FORD MPC, go to ILL CATALOG A72 Page 237.Last edited by Guest; May 23, 2013, 09:22 AM.Comment
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Just looked into the catalog, not sure which part is it though. Can you advise the p/n from the catalog?Comment
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