Column Shift Lever ‘92 E4OD

[Cant Write]

I must suck at using the search function cause I can’t find anything.

Does someone have a write-up or thread on tightening up the column shift lever?

Mine like to come out of park and fly right by reverse, and the same going into drive. And to get it into first, I have to pull it way down with no detent or engagement “feel” it just ends up in first. And the lever has a lot of play. I take my sweet gentle time finding gears as to not hurt it any more.

Is there something that can be done to help it shift smoother and engage more confidently? Thanks!

 

[Jesus Freak]

There's a plastic bushing that wears out on those at the base of the lever just behind the steering wheel. Sometimes you can pull the cover and work the bushing back in a bit and squeeze a bit more life out of it. Replace it and shift with confidence again...... until you're taillight bulb goes and the E4OD goes into limp mode.....id ZF-5 swap ole Wally or trade him in on a Honda 3 wheeler, personally......


Seriously, if you pull the cover off the steering column and wiggle the shifter, it'll be really obvious what the problem is.

 

[Jesus Freak]

Oh yeah, the search function does suck, unless you type in a full sentence of exactly what you're looking for and hope to God someone phrased it just like you.........cable shifter? ...... shifter cable?..... adjust shifter cable?........ cable adjust shifter?......... woodchucks cable install?....... install adjustable woodchuck?..........E4OD shift pattern headlight adjustment carburetor?....... teenage mutant ninja turtles?....... forget it, I'll start a thread "engine cranks up fine, idles, then dies when I start to go.....any ideas?"......... here's the backstory: I bought my first diesel yesterday from an old man (maybe 130? Said he knew Moses personally) anyway this is actually one of the trucks they used in the Exodus that hauled some of the Egyptian gold through the Red Sea, so you can imagine it's got rust from salt spray, anyway the last time it saw service was when Joshua was driving it around Jericho. Some of the wall came down on it before he could hook 3rd gear and it's just sat since then.......

 

[franklin2]

True with most forums, the search is terrible. It's better to search with your terms in a google search box. Google will actually search this forum better than the forum itself.

 

[Black dawg]

Cant remember if 92 was shift cable with that column, but if it is...
Put the park brake on, and while moving the shifter, watch the lever where the cable connects at the end of the shift tube at the end of the column. Most likely those bolts are loose, hopefully the one isnt broke yet.

 

[Double-S-Diesel]

loose bolts on the bottom, wore out bushings on the tube, or worst case , broken tube. seen all of the above before

 

[Rdnck84_03]

loose bolts on the bottom, wore out bushings on the tube, or worst case , broken tube. seen all of the above before

I have had all of these happen in different trucks. The loose bolts is actually very common though from 92 up through atleast 03 (probably up to 06 the 6.0 column looks the same)

James

 

[Greenie]

Pot metal tube was briefly improved by a steel shifting tube. I'm not selling mine.

 

[Black dawg]

Pot metal tube was briefly improved by a steel shifting tube. I'm not selling mine.

From the factory, or aftermarket?
Have never seen one.

 

[Greenie]

I bought it from a local Ford truck dealership in the late 90's. Everything I see now (eBay) is pot metal.

 

[Cant Write]

Thanks everyone, on shift this week and will look at it this weekend!

 

[Jesus Freak]

So.....
Do y'all think he missed "park" and rolled off a mountain?

 

[DougBoy66]

It is funny because I am having the same issues as cant

 

[DougBoy66]

Let me retry that. It's funny because I am having the same issue as @Cant Write . I have replaced the bushings on the shifter tube and am confident that the T30 torx bolts are tight on the part that attaches to the shift cable. But sometimes it shifts with positive clear feel fo each position and other time it doesn't feel like it is locking into the selected area nor is it in the correct gear. It isn't always this way. It's weird. Also I have been searching the sight with no luck

 

[Black dawg]

Let me retry that. It's funny because I am having the same issue as @Cant Write . I have replaced the bushings on the shifter tube and am confident that the T30 torx bolts are tight on the part that attaches to the shift cable. But sometimes it shifts with positive clear feel fo each position and other time it doesn't feel like it is locking into the selected area nor is it in the correct gear. It isn't always this way. It's weird. Also I have been searching the sight with no luck

Unhook both ends of the cable and make sure it is smooth, and no play internally.
Also the adjustment piece on the transmission end can get crappy to.