Finished!!!!! 1961 220Sb Column Shifter adjustment

[badali]

My 1961 220Sb just had new bushings installed and the shop is having trouble getting it adjusted.  Is there a starting point and procedure if you start from scratch?  Any help will be greatly appreciated.

[ja17]

Is it floor or column shift?

[badali]

Column shift

[austinado16]

Since no one has responded, I'll offer a suggestion (with the caveat of:  I have no idea how to do this adjustment, and have never done it)

Can the adjustment be accomplished by placing the transmission into 1st or Reverse, and then setting the linkage up so that the column shifter is very "up and close" to the steering wheel, as if it were actually correctly positioned up there in that 1 o'clock position?  Then the mechanic could test shift and fine tune from there.  It might take 2 mechanics to work on the car for a few minutes: One to hold the shifter up in the close 1 o'clock position, and one to figure out what that translates to at the transmission, and then force that short little shifter into either 1st or Reverse, but I think once set up, it would all be pretty close AND make more sense as to what needs to be set/adjusted to a certain spot.

[badali]

Thanks,  I was thinking similar to that but I don't know the position of each gear.  There are 2 levers on the transmission.  One on top and one on the side.  The 2 links have to work together.  Reading in the big blue book was vague.   I'm going on Thursday to look at it.

[austinado16]

I've seen that section of the big blue book and thought, "Are you kidding me with that?"  lol   And that's why I love my floor shifter...if you know what I'm sayin'.

I'll bet if you put all the kinkage sort of back to where it had been built (shiny spots on metal, where things have been sitting for 50yrs?) you'll be close, and as you move the shifter into the 1 or R position, you'll probably be able to figure out how the 2 trans levers are moved in order to engage either of those shift points.....and then do your adjustments from there?

[badali]

I checked out the problem with the mechanic.  No success today.  He put the rods on the same length they were before the new bushings were installed.  With the car on the lift and in neutral the drive shaft will turn.  When trying to move the shift lever to any position it will not move into any gear.  If we remove the link ball on the rod moving the top lever I can move the shifter into R, 1 and 3.  All top motion.  2 and 4 will not go in even if moving the top lever by hand.  With both link balls off I have full range of motion of the column shift lever.  Also full range of motion on the top and side lever on the transmission.  Nothing should have changed enough with the new bushings to make no gear work.

Note: They rebuilt the entire front suspension to include all control arm bushings and king pins.  This should not have changed the geometry of the front end since we have not replaced motor mounts or sub frame mounts at this time.

[austinado16]

Hope you get it figured out soon.

[Benz Dr.]

If I remember correctly, any adjustments are done at the firewall right on the shifter box. You can also adjust the length of the rods.

[badali]

I'll keep researching for the exact procedure for starting from scratch.

Dan, The big blue book is kind of vague but it says to loosen bolt 5 on the link arm 6 and pull both arms forward to the end of travel then have a helper move the shifter in the direction of travel to get 4th gear. Then tighten bolt 5 and have helper shift all gears using the clutch.  This will preload the spring.  I'm not sure why the spring would need preloaded just because we put in new bushings and all are in the same location.  Moving lever 6 would definitely change the location of everything so we are hesitant to move it until we get clarification.

[Benz Dr.]

I'll keep researching for the exact procedure for starting from scratch.

Dan, The big blue book is kind of vague but it says to loosen bolt 5 on the link arm 6 and pull both arms forward to the end of travel then have a helper move the shifter in the direction of travel to get 4th gear. Then tighten bolt 5 and have helper shift all gears using the clutch.  This will preload the spring.  I'm not sure why the spring would need preloaded just because we put in new bushings and all are in the same location.  Moving lever 6 would definitely change the location of everything so we are hesitant to move it until we get clarification.

Follow those instructions. I've done that job before but it was 20 years ago.

[badali]

Ok,  So if the rods are in the close to the same position as they were this will reset the variance from the new bushings and all will be ok???

[Benz Dr.]

Ok,  So if the rods are in the close to the same position as they were this will reset the variance from the new bushings and all will be ok???

Not always. Sometimes minor adjustments are needed and if someone moved things to compensate for wear that could be your problem.

[badali]

Thanks,  I will call the shop Monday.

[badali]

I'm having no luck at figuring this out.  Does anyone have a early version 4 Speed on the column that could take a picture of the linkage?  I'm not sure they are on correctly.  I tried The procedure in the big blue book.  I can get the position of R, 1 and 3.  I can not get the lever to go down for 2 and 4.

[ja17]

Make sure that the round, spherical bushing at the base of the shift rod inside the car is good.

[austinado16]

Diagrams I found online

[badali]

Todd,
I think the pictures are from an older version than mine.  The arms look different.  I also need to see the arms hooked up at the fire wall to the linkage.  A friend of mine has a 1961 220Sb and I am going to see his linkage in a week or so... we are both busy this week...  If you happen to see any more info let me know.  I talked to Joe yesterday and he gave me a few ideas to try so when I get time again I'll take another look.

[badali]

I stopped at a friends house today and took a look at the shifter.  His car is the same year and model.  I see that the shifter is showing very little threads where the ball end fits on the rod.  Mine is way out showing a lot of threads.  I took pictures while we went through the gears.  I'll start from there when I get a chance to work on it again.

I also found an exact engine and transmission at a house local and bought the transmission this morning.  It took ten minutes to remove...  If my transmission is actually not working I can use this one or use it to figure out what is wrong with mine...

[perry113]

I am not sure if this is much help.
I replaced the upper and lower shifter bushings on my 63 220seb automatic column shifter during the restoration process. I remember when taking the lower column apart that marked the position of the lower arm in relation to the spline. That was critical. Nothing else was changed. That may be your problem.
There was also an adjustment for the gear shift lever gauge.
Why would anyone change the lengths of the rods?? Factory set.

[badali]

Peter,
As far as I know this part was not taken off.  Just the shift rod ends and the link arms to replace the plastic bushings were removed.  I shortened the length yesterday to match my friend's car.  I still cannot get 2nd and 4th gear.  The lever is more springy to return to center like it used to than before I made these adjustments.

Maybe something actually broke and is causing the problem.

I'm getting a little discouraged since the car shifted before the bushings were changed.  I bought this transmission yesterday and am thinking of doing a good service and clean up and putting it in if I don't make any progress soon.

[Desertpagoda]

its safe to say that if it shifted OK before the bushings, it is related to the bushings/linkage details. The trans has NOT suddenly failed and would very likely need the same fettling to work as this one does

[badali]

I would agree.  I just haven't figured what went wrong.  If anyone has another suggestion what to try next I would be grateful.  I wasn't there when they made the mistake...

[badali]

After some research with my friend's car and the extra transmission I have I found that the one in the car has a problem with 2nd and 4th gear.  When the top lever in my spare is in the rear position, I get reverse to the rear then 1st to the next position and 3rd forward on the side lever.  With the top lever forward, I get 2nd to the rear and 4th forward on the side lever.  With the links disconnected in the car I cannot get 2nd and 4th manipulating in the same way.  I am going to pull the one in the car.  If I had a lift I would have pulled it already.  Up on jack stands it will go.  I'll give another update as I go.  I have a new transmission mount and motor mounts so that everything will be lined up and new when I make the final adjustments.  I think I fully understand the big blue book for the adjustments now that I see where everything is supposed to be...

[badali]

Does this area get any grease or lubricant before putting the transmission in?  I am doing all the prep work before I take out the one in the car.