TRANSMISSION REVERSE PROBLEM

[REVDRDICK]

My 1950 Stude Champion, suddenly will not shift into reverse, either while running or with the engine shut down. It will shift into all other gears either way, but not into reverse. It has a functional OD and that has not made a difference. Any suggestions re diagnosis and treatment? Thanks.

[Guido]

Have you tried going into 2nd or 3rd and then directly to reverse? If that does not work, you will need to get under the car and manually move the rods.

[JDP]

If for some reason the overdrive is stuck engaged, it won't back up.

JDP/Maryland
64 Daytona HT/R2 clone
64 GT R2
63 GT R2
63 Lark 2 door
59 3E truck
58 Starlight
52 & 53 Starliner
51 Commander

[gordr]

quote:Originally posted by JDP

If for some reason the overdrive is stuck engaged, it won't back up.

JDP/Maryland
64 Daytona HT/R2 clone
64 GT R2
63 GT R2
63 Lark 2 door
59 3E truck
58 Starlight
52 & 53 Starliner
51 Commander

JP, I was about to say, "Well, you might engage reverse, but the car won't actually move." But it occurs to me you are right. If the overdrive shift rail is stuck in the forward (OD enabled) position, and CANNOT be pushed back, then it would block the cam on the first-reverse shift fork sector from making its full travel, and keep the shift fork from moving all the way to reverse. The shift rail is spring-loaded to normally be in the forward position, but the spring pressure is usually easily overcome by either the cam on the shift sector or by the manual lockout control.

Dick, I'd suggest you try engaging reverse after pulling out the manual overdrive lockout handle all the way. If that doesn't work, look under the car and verify that the lockout lever is indeed forward and pointing down, rather than pointing down and rearward. It should be roughly at 6:00 if it is indeed locked out.

Being as this car is a '50, it should have an OD lockout switch. Maybe it's piled up inside, and preventing the shift rail from going all the way back?

If you can disconnect the first-reverse shift rod from the lever (rear one on the main tranny case) and then move the rear lever into the reverse position (forward) OK, you might have a problem with the box at the base of the column.

To recap: try it with OD locked out manually. No luck? Verify that the OD lockout lever does work. Still no luck? Disconnect shift levers from tranny, and see if they can be moved OK by hand. Note that there is an interlock, and neither lever can be moved if its counterpart is NOT in its neutral position. If you cannot get reverse at this point, there is something broken inside the transmission. If you can get reverse, then the column shifter unit may need repair.

While you are under the car, check the rubber motor and tranny mounts. If they are all gooey and collapsed, that may be your problem. Proper shifting depends upon the motor-tranny combo sitting in its rightful place on the frame, and not being sagged down.

Hope this helps. Do post back after you check a few things.

Gord Richmond, within Weasel range of the Alberta Badlands