[metalsmythe]

I had read somewhere a few years ago that some C4's had a park pawl problem from the factory during the 70's. Well, I have a 72 Grabber and I was going to put a rebuild on it myself. It has an aftermarket Promatic 2 ratchet floor shifter installed and when I unhooked the shift linkage from the shifter, the selector lever on the trans popped back into Reverse and will not stay in Park unless I hold it there buy hand or reconnect the shifter and shift it into park, then it will stay, I guess the shifter has been holding it in Park all this time. Does this sound like the Park Pawl problem I have read about before? And if so, what do I need to do to fix the problem? What parts do I need and where can I get them?

 

[forthman]

Sounds more like a shifter alignment problem.
try setting it in drive and then see if you can get to park and low.

 

[metalsmythe]

On 2006-05-21 17:15, forthman wrote:
Sounds more like a shifter alignment problem.
try setting it in drive and then see if you can get to park and low.

The shifter will take it to park fine and hold it in place, if thats what you mean. If I disconnect the shifter cable from the transmission, the lever on the trans will not stay in park by itself, like there is no detent or something? I never noticed the problem before I disconnect the shifter, because the shifter actually held it in park. Or are you talking about some adjustment on the transmission itself? Thanks for the help....

 

[chipmechanic]

I really wouldnt worry about it. There is a detent on the internal shift linkage that for the life of me I can't see how it would go away. With your shifter in park it will push the parking pawl into position. It is spring loaded and without the shifter pushing it it may not stay. Just keep on using the shifter and you'll be fine. Kind of hard to reach under the car and shift gears while you are driving anyway.

 

[metalsmythe]

On 2006-05-21 21:50, chipmechanic wrote:
I really wouldnt worry about it. There is a detent on the internal shift linkage that for the life of me I can't see how it would go away. With your shifter in park it will push the parking pawl into position. It is spring loaded and without the shifter pushing it it may not stay. Just keep on using the shifter and you'll be fine. Kind of hard to reach under the car and shift gears while you are driving anyway.

Yeah, I guess you are right, as long as the shifter holds it and has held it for the last 16 years I have had the car, it must not be that big a deal. I will just go ahead with my plan, a rebuild and shift kit. Thanks...

 

[Mario428]

What's happening is the toothed gear the pawl engages is not lined up. Put shift lever in park and turn output shaft and it should fall into place, lock the output shaft and the lever will stay.

 

[FALCONAROUND]

If the shift arm will NOT stay in Park even after you've put it there and rocked the car to lock the Paul... If the shift arm comes off of park when you take the shifter off it then there is a Problem INSIDE the tranny. The shift arm should hold each position without help from any quarter. It's got issues.....

FE

 

[metalsmythe]

On 2006-05-22 06:45, FALCONAROUND wrote:
If the shift arm will NOT stay in Park even after you've put it there and rocked the car to lock the Paul... If the shift arm comes off of park when you take the shifter off it then there is a Problem INSIDE the tranny. The shift arm should hold each position without help from any quarter. It's got issues.....

FE

Thats what is happening, guess I will see if i can see anything obvious when I tear it down next weekend.

 

[metalsmythe]

Thanks for the help, but also, Is it true that Ford had a Park Pawl problem in some C4's in the 70's, and if so could this be my problem? Just wanted to know if someone could confirm this, so I can find info on the fix if this is indeed a possibility. Thanks....

 

[64 TBOLT]

how bout the spring is broke???

 

[C4explosive]

[No message]

 

[C4explosive]

Hello all I have hade that issue with a few c-4s I just changed the roller detent and rooster comb to a later model like the 1977 and that did the job I dont remember any phisical difference but it has been awile but as long as your using an aftermarket shifter that lock in park I woudnt worry to much
C4explosive

 

[chad393na]

I had the same problem after reassembling the trans.. I bent the metal spring steel a little to make it press into the pawl harder, worked great after doing this.

 

[jennkent5454]

can anyone post a picture of the where the park pawl activation rod and spring is located and what it looks like?

 

[Viperwolf1]

can anyone post a picture of the where the park pawl activation rod and spring is located and what it looks like?

It's here and looks like this.

 

[PaulS1950]

Metalsmythe,
If you put the transmission in park and roll the driveline until you hear it click it should stay in park by itself. The 72 C4s did not have the problem of the early C4s with the park not holding.
My guess is that you either aplied the park brake before you put it in park and the pawl was not lined up with the cog or you just happened to put it in park in a place where the car could not roll to engage it properly.
It could be a broken spring on the aplication rod but that is very rare on C4s.