Fun for the day! I have an auto on the column with a loose gear selector. The car shifts fine, but it seems like a spring is disconnected/broken within the shift collar and isn't pulling the gear selector into the engaged position. Will I need to replace the shift collar, spring? Either way, I will be getting into the entire column soon replacing the blinker switch and steering wheel. If replacement is needed, will all Comet and Mav shift collars fit a 69 1/2; or what are other options to replace with? I checked the Chilton's manual and I don't see any different styles; I'd just like to make sure before digging in! Thanks for any help guys.
There is a spring and pin that may be broken and or worn. It is difficult to change the parts but not impossible.
71gold - The ignition is in the dash. The automatic transmission gear selector is on the column, it's your run of the mill 69.5. Paul, thanks for the info. If it is broken, will any year Mav shift collar work? Jamie, that will probably help save some time. Thanks for the quick responses! This is what I'm 'planning' on doing; if there is a step that will save time/headaches feel free to clue me in. Replace left turn signal cam (or turn signal switch if it'll be less of a headache) Replace shift collar (any Maverick collar?) During this time the column will probably be getting repainted and the steering wheel will be replaced; so, the column coming apart is long over due! Not to open a new can of worms, but the steering wheel seems to have a lot of play. This should be fixed by adjusting the worm and sector gears as explained in Chilton's, correct? I suppose there's worse things that could happen...she isn't rusted.
i was going to paint the one in my '73 so i took a '71 column apart first to see how everything works...i ain't got the '71 back together yet... if you need anything out of this '71 column let me know.... ...Frank...:Handshake
You shouldn't need to replace the collar - just the spring and /or pin. Get the Chiltons Maverick/ Comet book and it is listed in faily good detail.
Frank; did you find out what is needed to get it apart? Seems like I might need some snap ring pliers. Later,
I've looked in Chilton's under Clutch and Transmission and Suspension and Steering; neither seem to cover this. Maybe I have an older version, it's definitely been around for a while. The closest I have found within the book is descriptions to work inside the engine compartment at the bottom of the column. My problem seems localized to the shift collar itself. For clarification, the chrome handle that attaches to the shift collar will lock into gear; but it doesn't have any pull back toward the dash. I haven't torn the column apart yet, and I would prefer not to until it's all ready to put in. Thanks for any help!
Look at page 204 and 205 in the Chilton book. There is part of the process here under "Suspension andSteering". The sub heading is "Turn signal and hazard flasher switch Assembly". There isn't any actual place that shows how to remove the shifter handle but if you remove the pivot pin and carefully remove the handle with the rest of the garbage out of the way you will see where the spring is and how to replace it. Use some heavy grease to help slide it all together and keep it from breaking in the future. Then you just have to put the pin back in.
