Gear shift mechanism

A gear shift mechanism for a gear mounted on a shaft within the housing of a power transmitting device comprising:

• a shift rod mounted parallel with said shaft and capable of axial movement between a first and a second position, said shift rod extending through a hole in said housing to have an external end and an internal portion;
• coupling means rigidly mounted on said internal portion coupling said shift rod to said gear to cause said gear to be capable of moving in response to said movement of said shift rod;
• a locking lever pivotally mounted within a slot in said shift rod and having an extended end thereof capable of extending beyond an external surface of said shift rod;
• said locking lever being pivotally biased to cause said extended end to overlie said housing adjacent said hole when said shift rod is in said first position and to make sliding contact with an interior surface of said hole when said shift rod is in said second position and between said first and said second positions;
• and
• means for retracting said extended end of said locking lever to be within said slot when said shift rod is selectively moved from said first position to said second position.