Transmission / Overdrive: shifting problem

[cadill]

1952 Crown Champion, Help, when shifting from 1st. to 2nd. the trans wants to stay in first. If I go straight up towards reverse to neutral it will shift properly. But if I go straight up towards 2nd;, it stay in 1st. Any ideas?
Frank

[Skip Lackie]

There are a number of places where wear on the linkage can cause a problem like that, and it could also just need to have the linkage adjusted. The simplest way to adjust it requires two people.
1. Put the shift lever in neutral. Climb under there and disconnect the linkage rods from the trans levers.
2. Have your helper push down the clutch. Move the levers on the trans back and forth one at a time to ensure they're both in the middle of their throw (neutral position).
3. Have your helper hold the shift lever in the perfect position for neutral, right in the middle of the H pattern.
4. Adjust the ends of the rods so that they exactly match the holes in the levers.
5. Have your helper put the shift lever in each position , 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, in turn, and move the appropriate lever on the trans to match it. Make sure the shift rod moves the lever fully into the correct position.
6. If one or more shifts doesn't seem to be fully engaging the trans, then you have some wear in either the rods or the shift tube in the steering column. Examine the ends of the shift rods where they attach to the trans levers for wear. Any wear in the other ends of the rods can be detected by disconnecting them from the column linkage under the hood and examining them.

[bezhawk]

The shift levers on the transmission have isolation rubber bushings. Often these are worn or rotten. Also, there should be a hole in the upper shift levers that you can put a pin in to lock both levers in the neutral position.

[Skip Lackie]

Bez-
Thanks. Shoulda mentioned that.

[Tom Bredehoft]

Check the engine mounts for disintegration. this could be the cause of the problem.

Another possible solution, when shifting out of first into second:
1) pull the lever toward the steering wheel until in Neutral position, then
2) push the lever toward the dash before moving it to Second position.

[cadill]

Thanks guys, i'll try all of the above.
Frank