Shifter removal (yes I've searched) :)

[TimberwolfFXDL]

Hi all!  I've searched this and other forums, and the consensus seems to be I should be able to push down on the cap, give a quarter turn, and the whole shebang comes out.  Problem is, while I can compress it just fine, there's no turning no matter how far I push.

I'm 210lbs, and with all the weight I can put on my two thumbs to compress the spring, there's still no turning it.  It's not stuck, it moves freely, fwiw.

Suggestions?



Also, my build sheet says 3 speed manual transmission (this is an I6 base model truck) but it's definitely a 4 speed.  The shift knob says L in the lower left of the standard H pattern, with reverse on the far right (past the H) and down.  And even though it says L on the shift knob, it doesn't feel like a granny low at all.  Feels like a normal first gear.  What transmission is this and what should it have been originally?

[zieg85]

Judging from the floor it more than likely was a 3 speed on the column.  It appears you have the SM465 transmission.  Low probably doesn't feel like low probably due to a tall gear in back 2.73 or 2.56.  Sometimes there is crud built up in the top cap and you have to push down and turn with a large pair of channelocks so the teeth in the pliers give you grip.

[TimberwolfFXDL]

Judging from the floor it more than likely was a 3 speed on the column.  It appears you have the SM465 transmission.  Low probably doesn't feel like low probably due to a tall gear in back 2.73 or 2.56.  Sometimes there is crud built up in the top cap and you have to push down and turn with a large pair of channelocks so the teeth in the pliers give you grip.

Not sure what to grip though?  it's a dome, there's no real edges to grab, especially after I have to push down on it

[zieg85]

The pliers teeth is gripping the dome, better twist traction

[thirsty]

I use a large washer that I have to push down and turn it. It came in the packaging for a magnetic cb antenna. Works perfect every time on a sm465.
It looks like you have it started some in the pic. Maybe you are pushing down so hard it's making it hard to turn?

[TimberwolfFXDL]

How far do you push?  That's one thing I've never really seen made clear.  I've tried from about 1/8" to fully bottoming it out (or so it feels)

[thirsty]

This is what you are dealing with inside there.


This is the washer that I use for equal pressure.


Hope this helps you out.

[TimberwolfFXDL]

That does help!  Thanks a lot

I will give it a shot tonight and see what happens

[Grim 82]

Put it in neutral before you remove it. That will help when you go to put it back in.

[TimberwolfFXDL]

Put it in neutral before you remove it. That will help when you go to put it back in.

It's not going back in (700r4 is replacing it and this will go to the classified instead) but I will leave it in neutral anyway for the next guy

[TimberwolfFXDL]

Found a pile of mig wire spools in the scrap bin at work.  Gonna take one home with me and see if it will work in a similar manner to the giant washer shown above...

There was a enough friction between the washer and cap to just give it a twist once you pressed it down?  heck, I'll give it a light tack of JB Weld that I can clean off later if need be!

[TimberwolfFXDL]

well, not that you guys care , but nothing worked. 

as a last resort I grabbed a semi sharp wood chisel and laid a corner on the cap.  Tapped it with the hammer and after a couple dozen taps it came free.  Shook the shift handle a few times and it raised up and out.

That frees things up for the trans swap tomorrow!

[thirsty]

well, not that you guys care

Not true...we always care and want to have things work out.

Glad you got it out so you can move on. Something must have been buggered up in there, they usually aren't that much trouble to get out.

[VileZambonie]

Penetrating oil and work it up and down a few times, a few soft blows, put a rag over it and turn. Glad you got it out

[TimberwolfFXDL]

Thanks all.  Working on getting the trans out this morning.  Gotta go find a transmission jack.  No way I can just slide this sucker out on my own.

Found out something else I didn't know... going to need a new driveshaft for the swap too.  Didn't realize they were different until I went to unbolt it.