39 Hudson hard to shift

Val

My car is hard to shift at times. Mainly when it is first started. I drained and refilled clutch but the lever is hard to move at times. Any one know what may cause this?

Jon B

Three thoughts come to mind, and I'm sure someone will jump in here to expand on them (or shoot me down!):

1. Clutch linkage out of adjustment (pedal can't go down far enough to engage clutch fully)

2. Greatshift linkage out of adjustment (I have a floor shift so can't give you "the three most common problems" of the linkage, or anything!)

3. Interlock out of adjustment (those vertical bars on both sides of the transmission that prevent you from moving the gears into place). I'm not sure whether they still used these in 1939. It's an easy "fix" with one guy under the car turning the adjusting nut, and someone else intermittently pushing the clutch pedal and trying to get 'er in gear, until the nut has been turned the appropriate distance.

Possibly one of our '39 owners will know where the problem lies, exactly.

[Deleted User]

Well all those statements are things to check dont overlook the obvious. These old cars are not like modern cars. They were meant to be checked over and oiled and greased every 500-1000 miles. Look in your manual for points in the shift mecanisim to lube . Like pivot points ,levers ,cables ,linckage arms etc.
On your particular car you may need to replace or thin the gear oil in the transmission. Hudson generaly recomended using keronen to do this in cooler driving conditions . However we now have multi viscositi lubes you might try if you are having trouble,
Roger

[Deleted User]

Val--- Are you sure your Hudson is a 39 because if it were 38 (the last year for the electric hand) then someone could have removed the shifter without removing the vacuum cylinder which would make it hard to shift what with having to go against the cylinder?---Cliff Minard

Val

Cliff, Yes I am sure. It is a 39 Six, series 92. But it does not have the electric hand. However it is a 3 on the tree.

Geoff

When you say "hard to shift" do you mean the gear lever will not move, or it is just heavy to move? If it will not move it is most likely either the interlocks not being moved up high enough by the clutch shaft mechanism, or the cable that moves the selector lever on top of the box is gummed up and not moving the lever cleanly between the shift shafts.

[Deleted User]

just a thought. I posted a while ago aout my 39 hudson convet. I know that mine is a straight eight with three on the tree and it s cable operated. Now if the cable is gummed up, rusty or frayed it will cause all the issues you are talking about due to the cable not moving smooth.the problem will be inconsistant due to the cause and will happen in lower gears.I found a refrance to this in an old workshop manual. GOODLUCK