Hi, I installed my shifter after I had the motor out and third would not go in gear. I adjusted the linkage and first to fourth all shift nice, better than ever. Now it's hard to get reverse to go into gear. What do I need to do to get reverse to work better? It's a 69 m-20 in a 69 bird. Thanks, Pete

Sounds like you may have left out the spacer between the shifter and trans?? Just a guess.
Jim

If it grinds going in to gear, the clutch needs adjustment. If it just can't reach reverse, the shifter may not be aligned properly. Try lengthening the rod between the shifter and the reverse shift lever. If it won't go in what-so-ever, make sure the shift lever on the trans is not on upside down. (Been there, done that.)

Q

I think Q is closer to the fix. Yes, I too put the lever on upside down last time I did this. The shifter does not want to go far enough left. It did work before I adjusted third. It seems that if I adjust one linkage it affects the others? I don't have a clue how this thing works. Any more ideas? Pete

Peter -

There is a hole in the shifter that helps line up all three arms. I think it is 3/16" or 1/4" diameter. Disconnect all the rods and stick a drill bit in the hole and line up the arms. Then adjust the lengths of the rods to meet the holes in the arms, then pull out the pin (or drill). After that, you should have fewer problems.

This will make much more sense when you are down there with a light.

Q

Peter,
If your shifter will not go far enough to the left you may have forgot the spacer. The spacer allows the center pin to go all the way to the right so the shifter can go all the way to the left. It is a common mistake when re-installing the shifter.
Jim

I don't know where a spacer would go? The shifter bolts to a bracket that is bolted to tranny. The shifter ataches to the bracket with a fixed bolt and one on a rectangular nut ment to slide back and forth as an adjustment for the shifter position in the car. Last year when I had to put it back in I used the pin method, a 1/4" drill bit works great but I had to adjust it many times after that to get it to work. This time I marked the sliding bolt when I took it out and put it back the same. 1-2-4and reverse worked and not 3. After I adjusted the linkage for 3 it works great 1-2-3-4 but not good going into reverse. I think I am close to where I want it to be so I don't want to start over with the pin alignment It did shift pretty good yesterday when I took it for a test drive I think what I need is to fine tune it. Why when I adjusted the rod for third gear did it affect reverse? Is that hapenning inside the tranny because I moved the third gear lever a little? I know it just needs to be adjusted but I don't know what I am adjusting when I move the lingage? I moved the linkage nut 2 turns. Any ideas? Thanks, Pete

The trans mechanism is designed to lock-out any forward gear if it's already in one. Adjust the 3-4 the way you are to get it to shift into third. Then you have to adjust the 1-2 lever to line up with the 3-4 lever and finally, adjust the reverse lever so that it lines up with the 1-2 lever. That's what the pin is supposed to do, but if the shifter is leaning forward like it sounds like it is, then the reverse lever may be too far back, no allowing it to reach all the way into reverse. Try sliding that sliding nut thingy so that the shifter is striaght up or even leaning back a little bit. I'm betting it's leaning forward right now.

Q

The spacer goes between the shifter and the mounting plate. My shifter is not adjustable in position like you described. I think yours is not original? It does sound like you are still in a forward gear when you try to put it in reverse. This does not explain why your shifter will not go all the way to the left. That sounded like the spacer that holds the shifter away from the plate so that the center pin can stick out the side of the shifter housing/assembly.
Jim

Thanks, I have it working pretty good now. I adjusted the reverse linkage a couple of times before I got it to where it works. Pete