MTFCA Forum

The ruckstell in my 25 Tudor is stuck. Not sure, but I think it’s stuck in high. I can’t move the shifter forward or backwards. What should I do first? Is there a easy fix for this?

Which style of shifter is on it ? Lack of lubrication internally can cause that - how was it shifting prior to "locking" up ? Have you tried to "do the dance"
between the low & reverse pedals at the same time ? Sometimes that will do it as that is the best way to shift sitting still.

I've never had that happen in over 50 years of driving! I would disconnect the rod to the shifter on the housing to see if the shift lever and rod moves freely. Next, try jacking up the rear end and turning the wheel while moving the shift lever. Of course as Steve mentioned above make sure you have the proper amount of oil in the unit.

I've never had that happen in over 50 years of driving! I would disconnect the rod to the shifter on the housing to see if the shift lever and rod moves freely. Next, try jacking up the rear end and turning the wheel while moving the shift lever. Of course as Steve mentioned above make sure you have the proper amount of oil in the unit.

There’s an echo in here.

RajoRacer wrote: ↑

Sat Apr 17, 2021 9:22 pm

Which style of shifter is on it ? Lack of lubrication internally can cause that - how was it shifting prior to "locking" up ? Have you tried to "do the dance"
between the low & reverse pedals at the same time ? Sometimes that will do it as that is the best way to shift sitting still.

I don’t understand. I guess it’s the stock shifter. As for lubrication, how do I check if it’s full? It’s been leaking where the drive shaft goes in. Not a lot. So, sitting still I should push in the reverse pedal?

Lift one wheel up & run. try shifting @ low RPM's. Determine if in direct or rux. Stick a magnet on a wire into the grease. Search for chunks. Remove 3 shifter mount bolts, pull shifter. Put shifter in a vise & make sure it has 2 shift positions. ( working properly). All that should narrow the possibilities.
Have seen them lock up if the castle/planetary gears have grenaded.

TrashMan wrote: ↑

Sat Apr 17, 2021 9:55 pm

RajoRacer wrote: ↑

Sat Apr 17, 2021 9:22 pm

Which style of shifter is on it ? Lack of lubrication internally can cause that - how was it shifting prior to "locking" up ? Have you tried to "do the dance"
between the low & reverse pedals at the same time ? Sometimes that will do it as that is the best way to shift sitting still.

I don’t understand. I guess it’s the stock shifter. As for lubrication, how do I check if it’s full? It’s been leaking where the drive shaft goes in. Not a lot. So, sitting still I should push in the reverse pedal?

Steve is referring to the shifter lock assembly at the axle itself. There’s a long and short style...

And I agree with what John says.
Once the shifter lock assembly is out, you should be able to see and slide the sliding gear easily while turning a wheel by hand.

Chuck didn't tell us whether or not he has been driving a T with Ruckstell or this is new to him, so I am going to describe this as I would to someone I was teaching to drive a T for the first time.
Normally, the Ruckstell will not shift when the car is standing still whether or not the engine is running. You need to be moving when you make the shift. If you are standing still, you can get it to shift by just hitting low to get the car rolling a little then it will usually shift.
When you are driving the car, to shift the ruckstell, with the car moving, you put the low pedal into neutral quickly and shift while in neutral with the car still moving. To shift from Ruckstell to high, you push up on the gas so the engine will slow down while you move the lever. To shift from high to Ruckstell, you leave the throttle down so the engine speeds up as you make the shift. The idea is to get the engine running at the speed it would be running after the shift. So the throttle is quickly moved while in neutral.
If you want to shift down so you can descend a hill with compression braking, it is important to make the shift just before you start going down the steep hill. Otherwise you could get in neutral between the gears and lose your brakes. That is why you need good auxiliary brakes and parking brake, just in case. But normally you can make the shift before going down the steep hill, and if you cannot make the shift, it would be better to leave the Ruckstell in high and use the Ford low for braking.
Norm

If you have the later type Ruckstell shifter as used in 1926-27, it could be your shifter. The shifting plunger has a pin to keep the roller in correct orientation. If the pin shears off the plunger can rotate and lock up. Remove the plug from shifter and remove plunger and spring to check for sheared off pin before you remove things. I once spent half the endurance run in locked low Ruckstell, thank goodness that speedster had a full pressure A crank and a Rajo so all the RPM didn't hurt anything.

More than likely your shift lock needs to be taken apart and lubricated. Unless you know the ruckstell is in good shape, I'd suggest taking it apart and going through it. Excessive wear will easily cause it to get stuck between gears and your transmission brake won't work when that happens.

Stephen

Are you able to post a photo of your shifter ? I was referring to the shifter itself being "dry" which can cause issues as mentioned above !

Am i seeing the implication you have not checked the gear lube level?? When a rux goes dry the planetary system welds it self together if in direct. Are you locked in direct now? Very likely. When they run dry in rux, they grenade. Do all the external checks as previously mentioned. You can also manually turn 1 raised wheel feeling for non smoothness. That will tell you if the damage goes into the differential area also. I hope for the best, but I fear the worst. Sorry. Hope to be wrong.