NP435 shift problem

[TNIceWolf]

My 435 has a bit of a problen going into gear in one gear....seems like you have to hunt for it and theres a lot of slop in it. Transmission works fine otherwise....any suggestions?

[sideoilerfe]

Which gear?

[TNIceWolf]

would be the third of the four available forward gears

[averagef250]

Worn 3-4 shift rod or the tip of the shifter itself. Remove the shifter and inspect it.

[akuma10408]

TNIceWolf-

What ended up being the problem? Or anyone else who has had the same trouble? Mine is doing the exact same thing. I popped the top cover off and am searching for some info on what to look for.

I've seen vague references to the groove that the shifter pin rides in being hogged out, and requiring some welding to repair it. Has anyone done this, or heard of it before?

BTW this is my first Ford, first truck and first post, and I gotta say... . Its nice to find a site without ridiculous ads and good resources.

[fordman]

it is possible the top plate where the shifter rides in is worn.

[akuma10408]

As in near the base of the shifter stick, not down near the pin?

[fordman]

yes at where the spring and cap fit into the top of the top shifter housing. rob roy had a similar problem with his top cover. it waas worn and he replaced it with a new one.

[akuma10408]

Thanks. In the process of trying to figure out the cause of the shifting problem, I took the top cover off. Unfortunately, I had my head up my ass and removed it while in gear. Well, no problem, as long as I get both the top cover assy and gears into the same position (neutral) to install it, right? Well, when I reinstalled it, I unknowingly put something in the wrong position.

I fired it up and tested the shifting, but I got some grinding and gears that wouldn't go in. Something is F'ed up. I got it up into either 3rd or first position, but could not get it out. I also can not get the top cover off while the stick is in this position, because the reverse fork interferes with the left side of the case, and the 1st-2nd fork interferes with the right side of the case. Neither will move inboard, and I can't rotate the top cover. I've got the shifter mechanism off of the top cover, thinking that the lack of a shifter pin would allow some movement that would free something up. So far, no luck.

Thie 1st-2nd fork is now behind first gear (towards the rear of the truck). I don't think it's supposed to be there. Any advice would be appreciated, because I'm at a loss.

[akuma10408]

I got the top cover off, it was just as simple as getting a screwdriver into the shift tower hole and thunking it forward. The notches for thew two side pins on the shifter itself are in pretty rough shape, and, like fordman said, is obviously the source of at least some of the play. In the interests of making a thread that will be a good reference in the future, I'll post up when I get it repaired.

Any suggestions on what to use to build up the notches? I have a few different stick electrodes and a wire feed, but I don't have experience with a stick welder. Not that I mind doing it anyway, but I don't know what I should use. I've got:
7018 MR
6013
309-15 (I don't think thats AWS)
6011
something labeled "Nicromang"
Whatever is in the wire-feed, not sure.

All the stick electrodes seem to have been sitting for awhile. It's not my shop, so I have no background.

I'm assuming the hardest, most difficult to machine will be the best choice?

[akuma10408]

Welp, the stick welder didn't want to cooperate, so I used the wire-feed. I built up the shoulders around the slots, and ground them so the assembly fit together tightly. It feels MUCH better. It doesn't shift like butter, but at least I can find the gears now. Works good, hope it holds up.