1962 Cadillac shift lever stuck

[Matt Innocenzi]

Hello all, another challenge.  I was backing my 1962 Cadillac into the garage.  I went to put it into park and it would not budge.  I could get it from R into L but not into D, neutral or park.  I disconnected the linkage at the transmission and the column linkage moves freely so it is something inside the transmission that is bound up.  Any ideas what this could be?

[Roger Zimmermann]

If I'm reading correctly, the lever at the steering column is moving freely; could you go under the car the check if the gear selector lever can be moved it's entire travel? If not, you may have to drop the pan to see the cause.

[Matt Innocenzi]

Roger, yes you are reading it correctly.  The arm on the transmission swings a little bit but will not click into the detents.  It is bound up inside.  Looks like I'm dropping a pan.

[Big Fins]

Wondering if the spring clip that holds the detents worked loose and is binding up the movement. As soon as you pull the pan, it's all right there to see.

[Matt Innocenzi]

John you nailed it.  A broken detent spring roller assembly was thrown culprit.  Now challenge #2...where the heck do I get one of these?!

[Roger Zimmermann]

Ask Dave Edwards at http://www.autotran.us  The part was used from 1960 to 1964 and has part #8619302. It was called "Roller and spring assembly for the manual detent". I have remains from a 1960 transmission, but I don't remember seeing that part.

[Big Fins]

David Edwards is the best at these units. He's in Massachusetts. I rebuilt my Hydra-Matic with his parts and he steered my right through the whole thing.