78 CJ5 3sp transmission stuck in 3rd gear

[back40wes]

Clutch works, but transmission is stuck in 3rd gear and can't move the shifter. Pulled up to a stop sign and pushed in on clutch but the shifter won't budge from 3rd gear. Had to slip the clutch pretty bad to get it home. Anyone had this problem before????

 

[SteelHeadz]

Check the shift forks on the shift tower, also, make sure the pins on the side of the shift stick base are properly engaged to the notches of the shifter ball. (In my case ,T-177, one of the pins pulled out and the shifter got misaligned and was catching in between the 2 shift rails).

 

[back40wes]

The pins were there........until I removed the stick, then one fell out...somewhere.

I can't remove the top cover. Can only raise it up about an inch and it appears that the front shift fork is so far forward inside the trans that it catches when I try to lift up on the cover. So far I'm unable to move the fork rearwards.