The Ford Barn

Ford coupe · 07-18-2021, 07:18 AM

When i start my 55 the shift lever will not stay in the neutral posiotion ..Have to keep moving it up and down to get contact position..Anything i can do appreciated Original aautomatic tranny....

Hot Rod Reverend · 07-18-2021, 07:31 AM

Most probably the detent plate in your column is worn. Let me search my photo archives to see I have a pic or two of what I'm talking about here but the end of your shift lever that sits underneath the steering wheel slides back and forth on a plate that has the positions of the gear selections so that the lever will "stop" in a position such as P, N, etc... The end of that shift lever has a forged end that keeps the lever in the right position after you move the lever to select your gear. I do not think anyone makes that detent plate - but there are many guys here on the forum with parts cars - maybe they can help.

rotorwrench · 07-18-2021, 12:28 PM

The detents are likely inside the transmission for an automatic of that vintage but I don't know for certain on the 55 models. The switch should be column related and may be worn. A 1955 Ford should have a small case Ford-O-Matic. There could be minor transmission differences depending on whether it has a 223-I6 or a 272-V8. The older Mercury cars that I'm more familiar with just have a shift tube inside the column with an arm keyed to it for the shift rod. The neutral switch on them is adjacent to and operated by the arm at the bottom of the column.

Daves55Sedan · 07-18-2021, 07:04 PM

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Open the hood, then looking down near the base of the steering column, you will see a lever at the end of the shift tube. There is a rubber grommet in that lever where the shift link from the transmission connects. When that rubber grommet gets soft or wears out, your gear shift lever will sag a little. When that happens, the pin at the other end of that lever moves the neutral switch contacts off the mark.
So in order to start the engine like this, you have to nudge the gear shift lever a little to get the lever to activate the neutral switch contacts.
Many years ago, the repro parts suppliers were selling the rubber grommet, nylon insert, washers and cotter pin in a kit for Fordomatics. But I haven't seen them in a long time. That rubber grommet needs to be stout to make the system work properly.

07-18-2021, 07:18 AM	#1
Ford coupe Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Napanee ontario Canada Posts: 395	55 neutral switch When i start my 55 the shift lever will not stay in the neutral posiotion ..Have to keep moving it up and down to get contact position..Anything i can do appreciated Original aautomatic tranny....

07-18-2021, 07:31 AM	#2
Hot Rod Reverend Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Lancaster, CA Posts: 916	Re: 55 neutral switch Most probably the detent plate in your column is worn. Let me search my photo archives to see I have a pic or two of what I'm talking about here but the end of your shift lever that sits underneath the steering wheel slides back and forth on a plate that has the positions of the gear selections so that the lever will "stop" in a position such as P, N, etc... The end of that shift lever has a forged end that keeps the lever in the right position after you move the lever to select your gear. I do not think anyone makes that detent plate - but there are many guys here on the forum with parts cars - maybe they can help. __________________ Lancaster, California Visit hotrodreverend.com to view hundreds of pictures and videos of the build of the 1955 Ford Club Sedan!

07-18-2021, 12:28 PM	#3
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 16,431	Re: 55 neutral switch The detents are likely inside the transmission for an automatic of that vintage but I don't know for certain on the 55 models. The switch should be column related and may be worn. A 1955 Ford should have a small case Ford-O-Matic. There could be minor transmission differences depending on whether it has a 223-I6 or a 272-V8. The older Mercury cars that I'm more familiar with just have a shift tube inside the column with an arm keyed to it for the shift rod. The neutral switch on them is adjacent to and operated by the arm at the bottom of the column.

07-18-2021, 07:04 PM	#4
Daves55Sedan Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Granite City, Illinois Posts: 3,008	Re: 55 neutral switch Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Open the hood, then looking down near the base of the steering column, you will see a lever at the end of the shift tube. There is a rubber grommet in that lever where the shift link from the transmission connects. When that rubber grommet gets soft or wears out, your gear shift lever will sag a little. When that happens, the pin at the other end of that lever moves the neutral switch contacts off the mark. So in order to start the engine like this, you have to nudge the gear shift lever a little to get the lever to activate the neutral switch contacts. Many years ago, the repro parts suppliers were selling the rubber grommet, nylon insert, washers and cotter pin in a kit for Fordomatics. But I haven't seen them in a long time. That rubber grommet needs to be stout to make the system work properly.