69 F100 3 speed sticking

[Danielg_84]

Just picked up a 69 F100 with a 300 straight 6 and a 3 speed manual column shift. Sussing out issues, getting it road ready.

I've been driving it to and from work without tags, 3 miles on the freeway, less than one mile on side streets, for about 3 weeks now. Once a week, it's gotten hung up in 3rd. I've read this a common issue. I know how to physically unbind the shifter arms on the tranny, and I read that this is a common issue, and that the shifter arm bushings are often to blame. Bought and installed new ones, and it happened again.

Any thoughts or suggestions?

[Mach428]

I'm not sure the shifter arm bushings are to blame.

You didn't mention what you do to un-stick the linkage at the tranny. If you move the shifter arm by hand it that works, notice what happens to the linkage and shifter arms at the bottom of the steering column when you do this. It will probably take two people to find this out but I believe your problem is that the shifter tube/shifter arms are to blame and are not moving the arm on the tranny the way it should.

[Danielg_84]

That's correct...manually un-sticking the shifter arms on the tranny. Next chance I get I'll put someone in the cab to watch the shifter as I move the arms aND vice versa. Thanks!