Fenton shift pattern?

I have a Fenton 500 Shifter.


It's connected to a 1956 Ford synchromesh 3 speed. No overdrive.

The shift pattern has first all the way left and back, Where one would usually expect second gear to be. Second is forward from first and third is back and right. Reverse is all the way forward and right (typing this from memory, I may have a right or a left wrong somewhere). This seems like an odd shift pattern to me.

I've been driving it this way for a few years now, and just started wondering, why it shifts this way. Is the linkage installed incorrectly? Would it be possible for me to change the linkage so that it shifts in a standard pattern?

The truck runs and drives great, so I'm not looking to do a lot of work here. I just have no experience with these older transmissions, and even less experience with the Fenton shifter.


Thanks in advance.

 

That is the standard 3-speed floor shift pattern. Except reverse should be left and forward.Every 3-speed I ever drove had that pattern. BBTom

 

Sounds to me like you have the rods hooked up backwards.

 

What you wrote is the standard American shift pattern, except reverse is left and foreward.

 

You may be right about that reverse. I'd have to go out and check, but I'm pretty sure it is left and forward, where first would be in a modern car.

All my cars are stick, and this one is the only one that shifts this way, always takes me a few minutes to adjust.

At least there's nothing wrong with it. I also have a motorcycle that shifts on the right side instead of the left. I'm just loaded with complicated things to drive.

I guess I'll just keep driving it then.

Thanks

 

Depending on your "back & Forward" low gear ,to the left and towards the seat
2nd gear to the right and up towards the dash,3rd straight back towards the seat...Rev is to the left and up towards the dash...If its differend you may have the transmission arm pointed wrong..should be pointed up towards the floor.....

 

Nope that's what I got. Maybe I'm the one that's crooked.

 

Okay, so here's another question. This is the only three speed I've ever owned. Is it a three speed versus four speed thing that's tripping me up?

I might be expecting it to shift like a four speed. In that case the problem is me and the truck is just fine.

 

Reverse left and forward,1st left and back. 2nd right and forward,3rd right and back. Std American 3 speed shift pattern. if 2 nd and 3 are reversed that lever on trans is on backwards. Normally collum shift 3 speeds had the trans arms pointing down.When installing a floor shift conversion those arms must point up to get the correct pattern.

 

Per Fix:
Okay, so here's another question. This is the only three speed I've ever owned. Is it a three speed versus four speed thing that's tripping me up?

I might be expecting it to shift like a four speed. In that case the problem is me and the truck is just fine.

YUPPERS that's it exactly. Not really a problem except you have to remember which car you are in. About like me reaching for the column shifter in my wifes Mazda and grabbing the wiper switch.


Those are spring loaded so that when you push the shifter forward towards second it pops over. Shift pattern should be the standard H for a 3 speed just like the other guys said.

 

Well thanks. Here I thought someone had installed the thing wrong or sumthin'. I guess everybody has to ask at least one stupid question sooner or later.

I'll be asking more stupid questions of course, fair warning.

Thanks again.

 

We had one in a 53 Plymouth, first was where reverse should be, and reverse where first should be, second where third should be and third where second should be. And that was the way it was suposed to be! Never liked driving it at all.

 

Steve1103...you had the trans arm pointed to the ground..that would cause what you just described....They should have been pointed UP towards the floor...

 

You 1st and reverse gear is a slider gear in the trany - depending on the direction of the shifting arm ( up or down ) will determine the shifter location for 1st or reverse but they will always be on the left side or the shift pattern- 2nd aand 3rd can be reversed a well by changing the direction ( up or down ) of the shift arm - standard ford 3 speed trany is r is left forward 1st is left toward you - 2nd is right forward third is right back toward the seat - standard H pattern - but play with the arms if you want to chang it up - also the length of the arm will change the throw of the shifter - jaxx