Muncie 4 speed shift lever setting/adjustment

[Ruud Z.]

I recently, while driving, noticed that my 1st and 2nd gears were "gone".
The bold that holds the front lever to the transmission side cover losened, I tightened it and it worked well again. Next drive I had the same problem, I parked the car in reverse in the garage and left it in reverse. Now I have replaced the bold and found that my shifter is stuck and won't move except for a little play to the front. I cannot get it in any gear and the (Hurst) reverse lockout won't get back into its neutral position. Any thoughts on solving this ? Thanks Ruud

[Harry S.]

Re: Muncie 4 speed shift lever setting/adjustment

Ruud, you have two problems. 1) the shifting linkage is not adjusted properly and therefore you have the problem with in stuck in gear. You need to get under the car and disconnect the shifting linkage from the transmission. Next, set each of the shifter levers on the transmission so they are in the neutral position. Then reconnect the shifter linkage. You mentioned HURST. Adjust the linkage according to the HURST instructions. It sounds as if the adjustment is incorrect.

2) you can use some lock-tight on the bolt as well as a lock washer to keep the bolt in place. If the threads on the transmission that accepts the bolt are worn or stripped you may need a heli-coil, but I would use that as a last resort measure to fix the problem.

Good luck

[Ruud Z.]

Re: Muncie 4 speed shift lever setting/adjustment

Harry Thanks, I'll have a look under the car.

[Domenic T.]

Re: Muncie 4 speed shift lever setting/adjustment

Ruud,
Sounds like you are in reverse and a forward gear.

Grab the reverse lever (farthest back) and take it out of reverse.

Then if it shifts again, adjust the linkage.

That was a dirty trick that guys would do to lock a car in 2 gears.

It took a few seconds to do and the driver was stuck.

DOM

[Ruud Z.]

Re: Muncie 4 speed shift lever setting/adjustment

Hi Domenic, I surely hope that your remedy will work. I'll let you know tomorrow. Thanks Ruud

[Ruud Z.]

Re: Muncie 4 speed shift lever setting/adjustment

Today I took a look under the car and, yes, the transmission was in one forward and a backward gear. I loosened all the levers and put it back in neutral (rearwheels turning freely). It changed the bold that holds the 1st and second lever to the transmission. I used a washer and some (sort of) locktight. To free the returngear I also had to take the (hurst) shifter stick apart and put it back together again due to the fact that the return lock out didn't snap back into neutral by itself. It worked out perfectly and all gears are working properly, after some minor adjustments. Thanks guys.