Top loader jumping out of 1st - sometimes

[Wilma-Colorado]

Hello all,

We have the 4-speed top loader transmission in the F-100 now and a strange thing is happening. We hope someone has had this problem and found a solution. When the truck is first started and all the parts are cold, it will slip silently out of first gear. Second, third, fourth, reverso - no problem. We have a Hurst Comp Plus shifter installed and had to fab our own shift rods. Once everything isd up to operating temp, (usually 15 minutes or so) the jump outta first nearly stops. But not completely. We adjusted both the forward and rear shift stops way out so the full throw of the shift arms was available... no help.

Anyone have an idea ? If this is a shift linkage problem, I'd like to know it before we go ahead and pull the transmission for nothing.

As always, all comments are welcome. The forum has helped us a lot on a lot of stuff in the past and I again say we really appreciate it.

Wilma
Canon City, CO

[tsherry]

Had a problem like this on an old Austin Healey. Had a broken spring under a ball bearing within the gear cluster, and a cracked synchro ring. Easy fix, once I conducted open transmission surgery....

[jwright1982]

I would have to agree with tsherry its internal I had a 5 speed doing this a few years back. But mine was second it ended up being a cheap fix.

[Mach428]

Well I would certainly check the linkage before doing anything else. Place the trans in first gear then crawl under the truck and see how far the shift lever is engaged. You may have to disconnect the linkage are to see if the shift lever will move further toward engagement. If it does, its a shift lever problem and probably nothing internal.

[Wilma-Colorado]

Thanks to all for the responds. We put it up on four jacks and will look very carefully at the throw distance of the 1 - 2 shift rod (probably should have done that before I first posted, huh ?). Finding nothing there, we'll take it out and then to our local transmission guru... I'll post what we find in case anyone else has this sort of problem.

Wilma