Columbia 12v shift solenoid

[Steve in Denver]

Anyone know of a 12v shift solenoid I can use to shift a Columbia? I am trying to avoid running vacuum lines back there.

[cas3]

Interesting picture, thats not mine, but I made a manual shift nearly identical. If you have, or have ever seen the original vacuum can and the rod that activates the shift lever in the housing you would know its not going to be a bolt on thing. If you have machinist skills no doubt you could make it work by machining something to fit the solenoid of your choice to be mounted on the already home made housing on the axle that you have. I gotta get on a different computer, and I'll show my set up for fun

[petehoovie]

Originally Posted by Steve in Denver

Anyone know of a 12v shift solenoid I can use to shift a Columbia? I am trying to avoid running vacuum lines back there.

[cas3]

Again, interesting. Its too late, and I'm too lazy to dig thru my junk and find the original parts from my vacuum shift assembly, but it appears to me that the builder, you? used the original aluminum housing that mounts to the axle tube, and modified from that. Smarter than me, I made that part too, and it was quite an engineering marvel to make it all work and not leak. I have some big truck "gear jamming" in my youth, and folks like me like lots of lever's in the cab. Twin stick tranny, a 4x4 lever, and if you are really macho a winch lever too. Combine all that with a parking brake lever, and...who cares, I dont have to sit on that side of the rig. Sorry, I'm rambling here for fun. So, my manual shift columbia was by choice. I like to be in control of the shift, matching RPM's to make it smooth. After driving many old farm trucks with a vacuum shift rear end grinding for a half a block to shift, I decided to make my columbia a manual shift, remember, I am a big shot truck driver, and like lots of levers. Now, for some truth, my jalopy is an old school hot rod, so, minor period correct modifications is part of the fun, and I started with a wreck besides. You, may have a nice original car, so to do what you want can certainly be done if you have the skills to make it work. Again, you will not find a bolt on deal...to my knowledge. Perhaps a call to John at columbia two speed (google it) would give you more info. Here's my contraption, based on the Ruckstell two speed rear ends made for model T's, hope you enjoy as much as I did seeing you're set up. Also included is a photo of the original vacuum housing and its shift rod that I did not realize I had on file

[cas3]

That bell crank on you're set up looks like an original Ruckstell item. did you make it?

[solidaxle]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Originally Posted by Steve in Denver

Anyone know of a 12v shift solenoid I can use to shift a Columbia? I am trying to avoid running vacuum lines back there.

Duplicate response.

[solidaxle]

Originally Posted by Steve in Denver

Anyone know of a 12v shift solenoid I can use to shift a Columbia? I am trying to avoid running vacuum lines back there.

I considered shifting mine with an electric solenoid in my "32". It seemed like a clean an easy solution instead of the vacuum hoses, canister and controls. Finding a solenoid with the correct length stroke and in six volts was futile. You would also need to somehow seal where the shifter arm protrudes out of the casing, to stop the rear oil from leaking out. Removing the vacuum canister and adapting to the bottom half of an original actuator may be possible to accomplish that.


Manually shifting was another option that crossed my mind. In order to install a shifting rod I would have to cut the K-member, which I didn't want to do and I didn't want something looking homemade.


I decided not to reinvent the wheel and went with the 37-41 vacuum controls, mounted off the K-member. Shifts like a dream.



A simpler way would be for you to use the later vacuum over electric operated solenoids and do away with the clutch rods that activate the valve as in the early controls. The original ones, I'm told will work off of 6 or 12 volts. If you don't care about originality, I thinks it's GMan on here uses an electric dual fuel tank vavle.

[STEVE O]

Side note, when building mine, pretty sure it was Johnny Stooksbury (hope I spelled his name correctly) told me that the Columbia works well with the slowness of the vacuum canister as it gives things time to align when shifting? Just a point I remembered.
Steve

[blucar]

Interesting shade-tree engineering to create mechanical shifting for the Columbia in lieu of stock electric over vacuum controls.
I have a '47-48 Columbia under my '36 that I married to the stock '36 center section and torque tube using a combination of Ford parts, no cutting or welding. I used a stock '47-48 electric over vacuum shift valve and switch.. I mounted the control valve to the left front inner fender in lieu of to the head.
The system has performed perfectly since 1954 with a simple tap on the clutch while quickly releasing the throttle.
If the engine you are running has vacuum problems, the addition of a vacuum pump can solve that problem.
I relocated the SW speedometer assembly to the inside of the firewall and attached the small vacuum lines to the shift valve, therefore, when the axle changes ratios, so does the odometer.