Hey fellas,
I just dropped the old 6 popper in the old 30 truck. we goot here all hooked up but the trans is in gear. What's the best way to find neutral. I have been trying to slide the gears in the box around but can't get it close enough to get the forks on in the grooves.
Any suggestions?
Thanks as always.
:rolleyes:

its a hit and miss deal. keep trying and good luck. mike

Do an exercise in patience and moderation, when you get her in neutral, the one wheel that you have jacked up will turn without turning the engine. You do have that one wheel jacked up, Right? Also, please don't jack up the one wheel till you get the U joint and torque tube bolted up, I do that with both wheels jacked up the same amount,other wise it may appear that the U joint will not line up when just one wheel is raized up, it throws the driveshaft alignment off. When the wheel won't turn or turn the engine you are in two gears at the same time, that is ok for breaking the front Yoke off but not too good for anything else. I try to visualize neutral on the shifter, and then ease the gears to where the forks will slip over the sliding gears in neutral and try to turn the wheel or turn the rear yoke.

Hum........I think that Macky Wacky is probably in neutral most of the time anyway!

Actually JunkYardDog,......I have been accused of being a Hydramatic Okie... kinda of a shiftless %&*^%$! oilfield *^&*%$#@!

Makes sense to me! ha ha! :p

...and JunkYardDog that is just from the people that Love me....My Inlaws!

The easiest way is to move the shift lever to the neutral position. Measure the distance between the shifting forks. Move the gears on top so the grooves on the gears are the same distance as the forks and equally spaced in the opening. Carefully put the top back on the transmission. It should be in neutral when the top is bolted down. Once you have done it a couple of times you can look at the gears and know if they are right.

Also when in neutral both of the top gears are free to rotate. Just as a double check both top gears should have the grooves toward the center of the case. If someone put one or both in backwards you will never get it back together in neutral.

Thanks again for your insite.
My problem is that I can't move the gears to where they need to be. Will it work to jack up the rear wheel and spin the wheel until the gears can be slid into place?
Thanks.

I would do that.

Tom,
Before jacking it up try rocking the chassis back and forth. It is much safer and actually more effective as you can get more leverage. There is normally enough slack in the gears and shafts to wiggle the gears apart. In any case use a tool to move the gears as they will eat fingers.

I'll give that a shot-and keep my fingers out of the way-I'm kind of attached to them!
Thanks again.
Happy Holidays to all you VCCA gurus.

Safer?.... how is "rocking the chassis back and forth" that much safer than jacking up one wheel with a jack under the axle? jack it up just enough to clear the tire above the ground, garage floor etc. etc.

MrMack,

Rocking the chassis while trying to move the gears when you are working alone is just possible, turning a tire is not, safety issues aside.

George

...But turning the wheel surely tells you if you are in neutral......I have had a lot of problems, but being in neutral isn't one of them, as JunkYardDog said I pretty much stay in neutral. It is kinda' like riding a bicycle with the chain off! You do a lot of peddlein' but you can only go downhill!