Steering Column Repair: your answer to me Steering Column, chevy pickup truck, chevy pickup

Question
I received a response back saying you have all ready answered my question regarding a 1981 chevy pickup truck steering column.  Your response is that you already answered my question.  How can that be when I have never used the service before?  If you have already answered my question why didnt you just send it to me again.  Thanks for wasting my time.  It is clear to me you are not qualified and just saving face by making up an excuse instead of taking the time to research the answer to my problem.

Answer
Carl:
I answered an exact question the same day from another Carl.  I don't need to save face (this is by volunteer effort only) & I certainly don't want to waste your time or mine.  I'm sorry if the automatic reply insulted you.  I truly thought it was a repeat of the question before you.  I will answer your question here now for you.  Once again, I am sorry.


It sounds like the shift tube has worn substantially and the linkage arms have become misaligned at the end of the column.  The tube rotates inside the column moving the arms and linkage on the bottom to shift the trans.  The tube is a 2-piece tube (one slides inside the other) held together by melted plastic.  On the end the tube are the arms (attached to the linkage rods that go tho the trans).  These arms slide on with a spring at the end to retain position and tension.  Everything down there is so worn, they do not fully disengage when you shift from 1-2.  It then jams and attempts to shift into 2 gears at once.  What you are doing is resetting both arms to the neutral position.  Then you can shift freely.  The only repair is to rebuild the column (take it out of the truck and completely overhaul). I'm not even sure if you can find parts anymore for a vehicle 18 yrs old, but it needs a shift tube and both arms.
I hope this helps you