Ruckstell won’t shifter

[Harvey Bergstrom]

Hi everyone,
Just completed going through the entire Ruckstell in a ,26 Tudor that also has a Warford transmission. Having both I thought it a good idea to install the hydraulic disc brakes which I just finished today. Got everything put back together and started the engine to make sure the Warford shifted correctly which it did, however I could not get the Ruckstell to shift. I know it won’t shift usually at a standstill, so I backed up a little, still no shift, moved forward a little, still no shift. When I was assembling in a verticle position, the shifter worked great, the definite clunk like there should be. Everything had been done several years ago, but I did not know what had been done until I opened it up. Before I took it apart it shifted is it should. I had to take it apart to replace the axles and hubs. Any thoughts appreciated.

[speedytinc]

Did you maybe not get the shift fork in the shift collar groove?

[Harvey Bergstrom]

Thanks for the quick response. Tomorrow I will jack up one wheel and with the shift rod disconnected, will see if I can shift it using a wrench on the shifter arm. If no luck there, I will remove shifter and see if I can slide the gears then. The shifter worked fine after I had differential assembled and still in the verticle position.

[Mike Silbert]

Harvey,
If it were my issue, I would start by putting the rear axle on stands and spin a tire (probably need a helper) and see if it shifts or not.
If it does not then remove the shifter rod and see if the rod or front shifter is jamming somewhere.

If it does not, then remove the shifter from the housing and see if the axle shifts with a screwdriver.
Look to see if the fork was installed properly into the rear.
Check for binding and jamming where you can reach.
While the shifter is out, see if the shifter shifts in a vise.

If it is still bound up inside then something did not go back together correctly inside or slipped during reassembly.

Hopefully it will be an easy fix.
Mike

[RajoRacer]

The shifter needs to be in the "low" position when engaging the inner differential, as the sliding clutch should be fully engaged when installing the shifter to the housing.

[George House]

That happened to me once. I removed the shifter from the housing and the shifter was dry inside ! I slathered it up with grease and reassembled and it worked fine.

[speedytinc]

Did you do anything to the shift lock, like replace the plunger?

[Harvey Bergstrom]

When I disassembled, I examined the shifter closely to make sure the detent was holding. It was well greased, so I cleaned all the grease out. While holding the shifter in the vice, I could work the shifter back and forth hearing the little clunk when the detent engaged. At this point my guess is I did not get the fork into the shift collar. Thank you all for your thoughts!

[Harvey Bergstrom]

Hello everyone,
After reading all the responses and thinking back at what I had done, I went out to my shop and carefully unbolted the shifter and pulled it out slowly while trying to see where the fork was in relation to the collar groove. Sure enough! The fork was on the right side of the collar groove. No wonder I only had one gear. Works now as it should!
Thank you all my “T” friends!
Happy touring this year to everyone in this hobby!