Author	[Modern View]
Sean in PA 08-18-2012 06:54:42 71.224.102.32 Report to Moderator	The thread about the S-O-S with only 9 forward gears got me to thinking that I may have the opposite problem. I have a 1973 3 cylinder 4000 with an S-O-S.It actually goes into all 10 forward gears, plus Neutral and both Reverse gears just fine, but it barely goes into Park far enough to actuate the starter safety switch, and it doesn't really "Click" into the Park position, I have to hold the lever hard against the park end of the handle travel to start it, and if I let it sit in Park with the engine running it will slip into R2 from the vibrations of the engine running. I talked to the head mechanic at my local New Holland dealer, who said that he discussed it with an older mechanic at his other dealership who was supposedly trained and certified by Ford to work on S-O-S transmissions, and he said that the slipping out of park was just something that I was going to have to live with as most of them do this and there was no adjustment available. So I've been "living with it" by never leaving the seat without the engine shut off or disengaging the output of the transmission with the traction disconnect lever. As I said, the other thread about the one with only 9 forward speeds and the recommended solution of adjusting the lower cable by turning it out a little caused me to think that i might actually have the opposite problem. If my theory is correct, I should be able to adjust the lower control cable by screwing it in a turn or two, rather than screwing it out. Am I on the right track, or was the old mechanic correct and I just have to live with it? [Reply]   [No Email]
gatchelguy 08-19-2012 13:15:49 96.31.193.89 Report to Moderator	Re: Yet another S-O-S adjustment question in reply to Sean in PA, 08-18-2012 06:54:42   Initial adjustment spec for shifter cable is 2 3/4" from top of fitting to top of notch in cable end. Always worked for me.   [Reply]  [No Email]
Sean in PA 08-18-2012 17:14:07 71.224.102.32 Report to Moderator	Re: Yet another S-O-S adjustment question in reply to EJ70, 08-18-2012 06:54:42   Quoting Removed, click Modern View to see Larry, thanks for the clarification.   [Reply]  [No Email]
Bern 08-18-2012 14:29:29 66.218.202.160 Report to Moderator	Re: Yet another S-O-S adjustment question in reply to Sean in PA, 08-18-2012 06:54:42   "slipping out of park was just something that I was going to have to live with as most of them do this and there was no adjustment available" I'm sorry, but that guy is an IDIOT!! Good way to get someone killed!!   [Reply]  [No Email]
Larry NCKS 08-18-2012 13:08:12 64.254.59.123 Report to Moderator	Re: Yet another S-O-S adjustment question in reply to WayneIA, 08-18-2012 06:54:42   Shifter cable is threaded same as PTO cable.   [Reply]  [No Email]
Sean in PA 08-18-2012 12:25:03 71.224.102.32 Report to Moderator	Re: Yet another S-O-S adjustment question in reply to Sean in PA, 08-18-2012 06:54:42   OK. that seals it. I'm going to give it a try, but it might not be for a week or 2. To be fair to the old mechanic, I asked the service manager, who in turn asked him and then I got the answer second handed as well, so something might have been lost in the translation, as I wasn't even thinking about the lower cable as an adjustment point when I asked, I pointed to the control handle when I was asking the service manager if there was any adjustment available to keep it from jumping out of park, so he might have asked a more specific question of the mechanic. Oh, just to make sure, turning it in one turn means clockwise, right? I know the PTO cable screws in counter-clockwise and screws out clockwise, but I think that the shifter cable screws in the normal way, just want to make sure before I try. Thanks again.   [Reply]  [No Email]
Larry NCKS 08-18-2012 09:21:01 64.254.59.123 Report to Moderator	Re: Yet another S-O-S adjustment question in reply to Mike Groom, 08-18-2012 06:54:42   Sean - that old mechanic is the type that makes killers out of machines and ought to have been thrown in jail for intent to kill. He does not have a clue as to what he's talking about. I've never had nor have I ever known of an SOS to jump out of Park. I cut my eye teeth on these things. I was not even 6 years old when they first came out, but have been around at least one of them ever since. Adjust the shift cable stub one turn shorter and see if it doesn't cure your problem. Please post back and tell us whether it did or not.   [Reply]  [No Email]
Tequila 08-18-2012 07:53:50 70.196.201.32 Report to Moderator	Re: Yet another S-O-S adjustment question in reply to Sean in PA, 08-18-2012 06:54:42   Sean, I had the same problem with my 68 3 cyl 4000. Then had subsequent problems and had to rebuild entire tranny. However in re-installing after several cable adjustments it stays solidly in park. It's a precise adjustment to the lower cable. One turn at a time. P.I.T.Butt. However when the control valves are all completely in the park configuration, it stays. I am still wary and use neutral with the brakes locked if I need to dismount.   [Reply]  [No Email]
Gene Sage 08-18-2012 07:08:07 174.253.148.105 Report to Moderator	Re: Yet another S-O-S adjustment question in reply to Sean in PA, 08-18-2012 06:54:42   Try turning it in 1 turn rather than 2 as a starting point.   [Reply]  [No Email]