Top Loader Pops out of gear.....

[Jon Miller]

Either I've got to get power steering, or get the darn thing to stay in gear without holding it in.....

I've got a toploader with a Hurst shifter, and it pops out of gear under no/low load. I've only got 50 miles on the car and it seems to pop out of every gear but first, but not under power. Should I be looking at a linkage adjustment, or something inside the trans? It does grind a bit on the first to second upshift when it's cold, but once it wrms up it seems to shift ok.

Thanks in advance for any help!
Jon

[Barnsnake]

Remove the shifter boot and try it again.

[Excaliber]

GOOD CALL Barnsnake, a known problem with top loaders. The rubber boot puts pressure on the gear shift. IF it pops out enough times it can damage the trans to the point where poping out might happen regardless of the boot.

Just loosen the screws holding the boot in place and let if 'float' with the gear shift to see if it helps.

[Naumoff]

^ That is a good thing to check first.
Do you have a Blow proof belhousing? Did you check the alignment on it?
I had that happen to me and it was the bellhousing alignment. This can cause the hard shifting too.
The input shaft is put in a bind with the mainshaft when the bellhousing is out of alignment.

[Jon Miller]

I went for a bootless drive today and the dang thing shifts MUCH easier and does not pop out of gear anymore! There is a warm breeze blowing up around the shift lever though.......

Is there a way to soften up the rubber, or do I need to go with a leather boot?

Thanks guys!
Jon

P.S. It's a stock Ford cast iron, Boat Anchor/Bellhousing.

[wtm442]

I had the same problem with my Tremec 5 speed. Replaced the boot with another that was advertised for a Sunbeam Tiger. Problem solved.

Here is the thread regarding the fix on my SPF.

shifter boot

[Jon Miller]

Thanks Warren,
The Sunbeam place is about 5 miles from my house....I'll give them a call in the morning.
-Jon

[Excaliber]

My trans tunnel is glass, I simply relocated the boot slightly forward by drilling new holes for the screws just in front of the exisiting holes. Works fine.