So I installed A New Ragjoint And...

[derek7871]

Now my 3 on the tree is acting funny. After I got the rag joint in I took it for a spin. The steering is much improved, but I'm having a hard time changing gears. They're not grinding, just kind of hard to shift them. In fact, in third gear and turning left, the steering wheel/column actually got a hold of the shifter somehow and knocked it out of gear. Did I tweek the shift linkages when I slid the column back to change the rag joint? Any ideas?

'68 F-100, 360, 3 on the tree, manual steering.

Cooter

[72stepside]

Sounds like one of the alignment studs is grabbing your shift arms at the end of the tube.

[ezernut9mm]

how are your cab mounts?

[derek7871]

My cab mounts are in fair shape. Not perfect, but not not bad enough to let the cab sag down. I was thinking last night that I may have the steering column a little higher or lower than before, and that's causing the shift linkages to bind up.

Cooter

[fordman]

if the cab sags at all it will put pressure on the rag joint and related items. why do you say your column mihgt be higher or lower than before?

[ezernut9mm]

that's why i was asking. any cab sag can cause binding.

[derek7871]

I didn't really mean the column was higher or lower. You know how you have to pull the wheel and column into the cab to change the rag joint? That's what I meant. Anyway, I think I found the problem. Just above the ragjoint there is a little clip (not sure what to call it) that screws together to hold it tight on the steering column. I did not have that clip up high enough. I guess it holds the shift linkages in line? Shifting in the driveway and driving in the yard feels ok. I'm taking it out on the road in a few minutes and make sure it's ok.

Cooter