Delco 50MT Shift Fork Problems by Larry Hagemeister Rebuilders need to be aware of a problem in the industry with 40/50 shift forks. A couple of months ago, Chris Thompson at Electric Motor Service (EMS) posted a problem on the ERA Web site, about the SOMT shift forks. Thompson mentioned that they were hitting the center housing because the bend is wrong on the shift fork. EMS tried several different suppliers and they were all the same. We experienced the problem first hand at Hagemeister Auto Electric when we were installing a SOMT on a silver 92 Detroit in a 1979 Peterbuilt truck. The starter would not engage properly. After removing the starter and doing some measuring, we found that the shift fork was binding against the center housing. We ordered a new one from Delco, part no. 1945484. As you can see from the pictures on pages one and 12, there is a significant difference in the shift forks. Also, there is a picture of an old-style two-piece Delco shift fork. I don’t think anyone is manufac- turing shift forks this way anymore. Hopefully the suppliers will take a look at this problem and make the nec- essary changes to the way the shift fork is made to solve this problem. I also understand that many rebuilders are grinding out the SOMT center housing to allow clearance for the shift fork. For questions and comments contact Larry Hagemeister at (800) 944-0494 or hei@centurytel.net. Larry Hagemeister is owner of Hagemeister Enterprises, Inc., Lebanon, Ore.