4 Speed help
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 277
Likes: 57
From: Va.
4 Speed help
Went driving had no issues and parked the car. Went to move it after about 5 minutes. Pushed in clutch, shift up to reverse, won’t backup. Pulled down out of reverse, let out the clutch and car started going forward which I’m guessing was in second. Got it moving in this big parking lot about 5 mph. Tried putting it in first, third, fourth won’t do it. Neutral used to be loose now its tight. All it does is bind up except for putting it in reverse. Guess it’s stuck in a gear. I know nothing about 4 speeds. It’s a Muncie. Any advice would be appreciated. Could it be the clutch? Thanks
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 277
Likes: 57
From: Va.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 277
Likes: 57
From: Va.
most likely not the clutch if you were driving it just before this happened
slide under it and check the shifter arms on trans, if I remember correctly they should all be in a vertical position = neutral
inspect the arms that come from the shifter to the trans, make sure all are connected
while trans is in neutral all the arms on the shifter should line up and a I believe 3/16 rod/drill/hex key inserts thru an alignment
passage to make sure everything is correct.
It's been a long time since I have messed with one, running a Doug Nash right now but believe the same applies.
google is your source of information, = Muncie shifter arm alignment = should give you an idea
slide under it and check the shifter arms on trans, if I remember correctly they should all be in a vertical position = neutral
inspect the arms that come from the shifter to the trans, make sure all are connected
while trans is in neutral all the arms on the shifter should line up and a I believe 3/16 rod/drill/hex key inserts thru an alignment
passage to make sure everything is correct.
It's been a long time since I have messed with one, running a Doug Nash right now but believe the same applies.
google is your source of information, = Muncie shifter arm alignment = should give you an idea
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 877
Likes: 702
From: Oregon
Hard for me to tell from pic but is the arm on top of reverse switch straight up(at 12 o'clock) or leaning towards back of car? As poster above said, in neutral those 2 shift arms coming out of the side cover are both at 12 o'clock when shifter is in neutral.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 6,741
Likes: 1,383
Sounds like the typical "locked-up-into-2 gears at the same time" scenario. Lever is stuck in reverse and when you put it in another gear the tranny locks up. You're lucky to be able to move it in reverse. Mine typically got stuck and I couldn't move it at all.
Lift the driver side and jiggle the levers until it gets out of the gears it's in and back into neutral. Shifter is probably worn and lose.... be careful shifting from now on.... it will happen again if you're not "gentle". Might want to start carrying a super long screwdriver to reach under and un-jam when it happens..
May want to align the individual levers such that they are all "vertical" ..... been a long time since I replaced my muncie & shifter but it was annoying.
Lift the driver side and jiggle the levers until it gets out of the gears it's in and back into neutral. Shifter is probably worn and lose.... be careful shifting from now on.... it will happen again if you're not "gentle". Might want to start carrying a super long screwdriver to reach under and un-jam when it happens..
May want to align the individual levers such that they are all "vertical" ..... been a long time since I replaced my muncie & shifter but it was annoying.
Went driving had no issues and parked the car. Went to move it after about 5 minutes. Pushed in clutch, shift up to reverse, won’t backup. Pulled down out of reverse, let out the clutch and car started going forward which I’m guessing was in second. Got it moving in this big parking lot about 5 mph. Tried putting it in first, third, fourth won’t do it. Neutral used to be loose now its tight. All it does is bind up except for putting it in reverse. Guess it’s stuck in a gear. I know nothing about 4 speeds. It’s a Muncie. Any advice would be appreciated. Could it be the clutch? Thanks
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 2,326
Likes: 721
From: Marietta GA
For reverse problems, unscrew the shift ball, then the spring, next the chrome lever with the long rod on the bottom. The long rod is what allows you to go int revers when you pull up on it. The rod on my shifter was loose, I tried tightening it, but later on bought a new one, along with a shifter restoration kit. When my transmission got stuck, I reached under the car and “moved the shift arms with my hand” very gently. Then I climbed back in the car and went through the gears (without the engine running).
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Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 277
Likes: 57
From: Va.
I will have to get back under later today and look. Cant remember and I really dont know what to look for but that sounds simple enough to see. Thanks.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 277
Likes: 57
From: Va.
Sounds like the typical "locked-up-into-2 gears at the same time" scenario. Lever is stuck in reverse and when you put it in another gear the tranny locks up. You're lucky to be able to move it in reverse. Mine typically got stuck and I couldn't move it at all.
Lift the driver side and jiggle the levers until it gets out of the gears it's in and back into neutral. Shifter is probably worn and lose.... be careful shifting from now on.... it will happen again if you're not "gentle". Might want to start carrying a super long screwdriver to reach under and un-jam when it happens..
May want to align the individual levers such that they are all "vertical" ..... been a long time since I replaced my muncie & shifter but it was annoying.
Lift the driver side and jiggle the levers until it gets out of the gears it's in and back into neutral. Shifter is probably worn and lose.... be careful shifting from now on.... it will happen again if you're not "gentle". Might want to start carrying a super long screwdriver to reach under and un-jam when it happens..
May want to align the individual levers such that they are all "vertical" ..... been a long time since I replaced my muncie & shifter but it was annoying.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 277
Likes: 57
From: Va.
For reverse problems, unscrew the shift ball, then the spring, next the chrome lever with the long rod on the bottom. The long rod is what allows you to go int revers when you pull up on it. The rod on my shifter was loose, I tried tightening it, but later on bought a new one, along with a shifter restoration kit. When my transmission got stuck, I reached under the car and “moved the shift arms with my hand” very gently. Then I climbed back in the car and went through the gears (without the engine running).
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 277
Likes: 57
From: Va.
You have to get under the car , put your little rubber gloves on & reach up and with your hand manually move the shifter arms attached to the transmission
into the vertical position.
on a good note the area around your transmission looks fairly clean (no oil leaks)
the pictures were taken to close to really see anything
looks like 2 arms, the middle & the rear are NOT VERTICAL
into the vertical position.
on a good note the area around your transmission looks fairly clean (no oil leaks)
the pictures were taken to close to really see anything
looks like 2 arms, the middle & the rear are NOT VERTICAL
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 7,493
Likes: 1,501
From: Little Rock AR
This is probably your transmission engaged in 2 gears at one time. Its still in a fYour shifter linkage is loose or binding. The levers will need to be adjusted. Not an expensive problem.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 277
Likes: 57
From: Va.
should I buy all new linkage kit so this wont happen again? I've been driving this car for 5 years and this is the first time it happened. Thanks.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 7,493
Likes: 1,501
From: Little Rock AR
This is probably your transmission engaged in 2 gears at one time. Its still in a a forward gear while you put it in reverse. That locks the transmission and you cant move. Your shifter linkage is loose or binding. The levers will need to be adjusted. Not an expensive problem.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 7,493
Likes: 1,501
From: Little Rock AR
Dr. Detroit
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 10,097
Likes: 4,027
From: New Braunfels Texas
Classic 2-3 cross......use to happen to me in my 66' when I would powershift 2-3 on the stock shifter.......I would get under car and pop one of the ears back into position....can't remember which one but I believe it was the back one.....with a pair of Channel Locks.....
Kept the Channel Locks in the car for 4 years after that.......I tried adjusting but didn't help......I believe the pivots at the shifter were getting worn.....
Jebby
Kept the Channel Locks in the car for 4 years after that.......I tried adjusting but didn't help......I believe the pivots at the shifter were getting worn.....
Jebby