The Ford Barn

psimet · 04-23-2025, 11:06 AM

Rebuilding my ‘28 shift tower that has the E Brake located above the shifter. Trying to pull the racket plate off of it and it looks to only be held on by one large head slotted bolt.

So help me I can not seem to remove that bolt. It will easily spin about 1/4 turn then really locks up hard like there’s a set screw on something holding it in place.

Almost like the bushings are capturing the plate and the screw is almost trying to extract the plate and the bushing.

Is there any trick to this or do I grab my impact screw driver?

Keith True · 04-23-2025, 12:27 PM

Is the ratchet damaged? Do you really have a need to remove it?

psimet · 04-23-2025, 12:40 PM

Removing it to clean and refinish the tower. I was also going to clean and nickel plate the rachet plate.

psimet · 04-23-2025, 03:24 PM

Answer is no. It’s just the screw. Just used a large screwdriver with a wrench on the handle to turn it. Just posting the follow up in case anyone searches for this in he future.

nkaminar · 04-23-2025, 04:03 PM

An impact screwdriver, that you hit with a hammer, is a good tool to remove large screws such as this when a normal screwdriver will not work.

Klattu1929 · 04-23-2025, 05:22 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

"impact screwdriver, that you hit with a hammer"; should come with a large dose of common sense. Working around castings, ya don't want to go gorilla on it. Just saying, been there done that.

04-23-2025, 11:06 AM	#1
psimet Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2021 Location: Elgin, IL Posts: 247	‘28 Emergency Brake and Shift Tower Question Rebuilding my ‘28 shift tower that has the E Brake located above the shifter. Trying to pull the racket plate off of it and it looks to only be held on by one large head slotted bolt. So help me I can not seem to remove that bolt. It will easily spin about 1/4 turn then really locks up hard like there’s a set screw on something holding it in place. Almost like the bushings are capturing the plate and the screw is almost trying to extract the plate and the bushing. Is there any trick to this or do I grab my impact screw driver?

04-23-2025, 12:27 PM	#2
Keith True Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Epping N.H. Posts: 3,421	Re: ‘28 Emergency Brake and Shift Tower Question Is the ratchet damaged? Do you really have a need to remove it?

04-23-2025, 12:40 PM	#3
psimet Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2021 Location: Elgin, IL Posts: 247	Re: ‘28 Emergency Brake and Shift Tower Question Removing it to clean and refinish the tower. I was also going to clean and nickel plate the rachet plate.

04-23-2025, 03:24 PM	#4
psimet Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2021 Location: Elgin, IL Posts: 247	Re: ‘28 Emergency Brake and Shift Tower Question Answer is no. It’s just the screw. Just used a large screwdriver with a wrench on the handle to turn it. Just posting the follow up in case anyone searches for this in he future.

04-23-2025, 04:03 PM	#5
nkaminar Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Western North Carolina Posts: 5,856	Re: ‘28 Emergency Brake and Shift Tower Question An impact screwdriver, that you hit with a hammer, is a good tool to remove large screws such as this when a normal screwdriver will not work. __________________ A is for apple, green as the sky. Step on the gas, for tomorrow I die. Forget the brakes, they really don't work. The clutch always sticks, and starts with a jerk. My car grows red hair, and flies through the air. Driving's a blast, a blast from the past.

04-23-2025, 05:22 PM	#6
Klattu1929 Member Join Date: May 2023 Location: Washington State Posts: 45	Re: ‘28 Emergency Brake and Shift Tower Question Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) "impact screwdriver, that you hit with a hammer"; should come with a large dose of common sense. Working around castings, ya don't want to go gorilla on it. Just saying, been there done that.