Sloppy gear selector

[Lil Ape]

Anyone elses factory column shifter feel kinda mushy doing into each gear? I have a th350 with the column linkage setup that's basically just two rods and a little spring, no cable. It feels sloppy as I'm going though the gears and doesn't feel like it locks very well though each. I have to use the tips of my fingers and "feather" it down or I'll skip the gear I wanted. Like say I wanted reverse, sometimes I'll accidentally get into neutral becasue it doesn't lock very well in each gear. Is there anyway I can adjust the linkage? And I cant go lower into 2 or 1 without having to slam or yank the shifter down. I have the lokar column shifter linkage and tried using that, and while it had better feel going down through the gears, sometimes it would hang up going back up, plus was a pita trying to set up right.

[SkinnyG]

Do you still have the plastic half-ball thingie that attaches to the frame side? It slips around the rod, and is acted upon by the spring. Mine was missing and it felt super sloppy.

[Lil Ape]

Anything in this pic that resembles what you're talking about? Is it the thick piece next to the flat washer? It sits in a little pocket on the frame and the spring sits on it?

[SkinnyG]

I think it's the thick piece next to the flat washer at the top. Yes, it should sit in a pocket, and the spring presses on it. Does it show evidence of excessive wear??

Mine went missing when I had a shop do work on my transmission. I machined a new one out of a stick of plastic I had.

Could it also be the shifter itself is not adjusted? Put the transmission in Neutral, and put the selector in Neutral, and then adjust the threaded adjuster thingie so they fit together perfect.

That's all I got.

[dragn91]

Could be the linkage in the trans is loose. That's how my th400 is. I adjusted it to have park and no first I figure I use park more. I'll eventually drop the pan and fix it but I got other problems right now

[kalbert]

Every truck I've ha has sloppy shift linkage. That stuff just wears out over time and gets sloppy. I know Lokar makes a cable kit, but I haven't used it. Anyone that has?