Shifting stick got loose

[Jerther]

Hi!

 

I have a 1988 GMC 1500 Sierra SL with a 4.3L and a 5 speed Manual.

 

It's winter here and yesterday i had some fun in an empty parking lot *wink wink* for a couple of minutes and when i got back home, i noticed my shifting stick got loose... Normally, i have to push left or right to move the stick in neutral position, but now there is like a big deadzone with no restriction at all. The two restrictions are still there though. When in a gear, the stick is simply loose and I fear that if I don'T hold it when i drive on a hole, the stick will get out of the gear... (paranoia!! )

 

Is this something serious that i should take care of as soon as possible? like.. a little piece got off the stick and fell in the tranny, and it could dammage the gears or something...

 

Also, is it possible to repair this buy just removing the boot inside the truck or i'll have to get the tranny off?

 

Thanks a lot!

[Jerther]

update:

 

Now i can't get on reverse gear... Same thing for 5th gear...

[Jerther]

Found the problem...

 

I had to remove the boot on the stick base, remove the other boot between the tranny and the stick, remove the 4 bolts on the base of the block that holds the stick, remove the stick, then find that the little rollpin that locks the socket with the tranny rod was broken, so the socket moved almost freely on the rod.

 

Here's what I did at this point. Pretty simple:

 

- Move the transmission to 3rd gear so there is a clear way under the socket

- Place a plastic bag under the socket so nothing can fall into the gears

- Push the broken pin pieces out, so they fall on the bag, and get them using a magnet

- Place a new rollpin (from a Unicanvas Supramatic II awning )

- Put everything back in place

- Look in my wallet

- Everything is still there.

 

So, be gentle with your stick... It's only a little roll pin smaller than a small straw that holds the whole thing...

[PeterbiltChrome]

sorry you couldn't have gotten any help~

 

With the forums split up, you couldn't have been any better off in the classic truck (obs) section.... less traffic~ glad to hear it worked out~

 

I know my buddy with a '86 ferd with a 4sp had something like this happen with his truck and he had to tear out the shifter to play with the roll pins too~