Won't shift into reverse
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Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 50
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From: tampa fl
Won't shift into reverse
It never ends. I put in new motor mounts today and then went for a quick bite to eat. When I went to leave, I couldn't get the car (67 390, close ratio)into reverse. Up until this point, I've had no transmission problems. Pushed the car out of the parking space and drove home on the race ramps, still down in the garage from the motor mounts. The reverse rod on the trans. was pointing forward so I pushed it toward the rear figuring it wasn't working the way it was, it might work the other way. Still doesn't work. It just refuses to go into reverse. Any suggestions? Thanks. Steve Jarrett
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 6,808
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From: Westport CT
It never ends. I put in new motor mounts today and then went for a quick bite to eat. When I went to leave, I couldn't get the car (67 390, close ratio)into reverse. Up until this point, I've had no transmission problems. Pushed the car out of the parking space and drove home on the race ramps, still down in the garage from the motor mounts. The reverse rod on the trans. was pointing forward so I pushed it toward the rear figuring it wasn't working the way it was, it might work the other way. Still doesn't work. It just refuses to go into reverse. Any suggestions? Thanks. Steve Jarrett
just moving the reverse rod by itself doesn't put it cleanly into reverse, you need to hook the rod back up to the shifter. Same thing happened with my car, no reverse, had lost a circlip keeper thingy
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2003
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From: Greenville, Indiana
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2006
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From: DFW
Try removing the t-handle lockout (remove the shift ****), and see if it goes in. Could be the shift **** or the t-handle. I run an aftermarket leather ****, and if the insert on the **** moves, tightening the **** limits lockout movement.
Harry
Harry
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2003
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From: Grosse Ile MI
Remove the shift lever ball.
Remove the T- handle making sure the reverse lock-out rod comes out with it.
If the rod isn't still secured to the T-handle you've found your problem.
Remove the rod manually and re-secure it to the T-handle.
If the lock-out rod comes out with the T-handle, replace the shifter ball and see if you can shift to reverse.
Remove the T- handle making sure the reverse lock-out rod comes out with it.
If the rod isn't still secured to the T-handle you've found your problem.
Remove the rod manually and re-secure it to the T-handle.
If the lock-out rod comes out with the T-handle, replace the shifter ball and see if you can shift to reverse.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,558
Likes: 224
From: Manitowoc WI
I had the allen screw (its been years but I think that was the type) loosen on the t-handle allowing the rod to slip up on a '65 I had back in '67. What it caused was it allowed me to push the lever into the reverse direction (with a bit of grinding) while moving forward. It didn't prevent the lever from hitting reverse, actually it was quite the opposite.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2000
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From: Washington Michigan
Here's what the bottom of the shifter and the lockout rod (part of the T-handle) looks like. If the rod has dropped or broken and stuck in position, it won't let the shift lever go across the gate into reverse so it can go forward. 
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2003
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From: Palm Beach Gardens Florida
St. Jude Donor '09
Might seem hard to BELIEVE
About 3 years ago , I was locked up, could not shift into reverse. As the shifter was being replaced a DIME and a PENNY fell out of shifter .Both were dinged up .
Pro
Joined: Jun 2008
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I'm having a similar problem on my '67. I took the T handle and lock out rod out, along with the spring. The rod came right out, attached as it should be, to the handle. Now the car seems to shift into all gears (it's on the lift, so I can't move it). What does this mean? Does the shifter need to be rebuilt? thanx steve
"Never enough time to do it right, always enough time to do it over"
"Never enough time to do it right, always enough time to do it over"
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,660
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From: DFW
Steve, my guess would be that something is keeping the rod on the t-handle from pulling all of the way up when the shift lever is together. I'd look at the return spring, and the bushings. Even the ****, especially if its not the original ****. Screwed on tight, it might be limiting the travel for the t-handle. Try unscewing it a turn or two, and see if the shifter works..
Harry
Harry
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2001
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From: northern CA
You should be able to force the reverse gear lever into position to or fro from underneath the car, even without the use of the shifter fork. That was my experience when the stock shifter would sometimes shift into first and reverse gear, simultaneously. The only way to correct it and unlock the transmission was to reach underneath the car and pull either the first and/or reverse gear lever back to the neutral position.
The trick after that was to be careful putting the trans into gear. The problem was the lower portion of the (as shown in JohnZ's pic) reverse lockout pin had bent over which allowed the shifter to move to a midpoint position and line up with both the reverse and first gear gates. The result was a 2-fer. ..
This could well be BUBBA'S mantra .. Good one, Steve! ..
The trick after that was to be careful putting the trans into gear. The problem was the lower portion of the (as shown in JohnZ's pic) reverse lockout pin had bent over which allowed the shifter to move to a midpoint position and line up with both the reverse and first gear gates. The result was a 2-fer. ..
This could well be BUBBA'S mantra .. Good one, Steve! ..
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 50
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From: tampa fl
Thanks for the reply's . The reverse shifter rod is attached to the T handle and seems straight. I undid the ball 2-6 turns with no results. The reverse lever can be moved forward and backward from under the car using some leverage (screwdriver). I will try the first and second lever movement tomarrow (as suggested by MGR) from under the car. steve
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 1,290
Likes: 186
From: Naples FL
Using the Search Function to fix problem
Remove the shift lever ball.
Remove the T- handle making sure the reverse lock-out rod comes out with it.
If the rod isn't still secured to the T-handle you've found your problem.
Remove the rod manually and re-secure it to the T-handle.
If the lock-out rod comes out with the T-handle, replace the shifter ball and see if you can shift to reverse.
Remove the T- handle making sure the reverse lock-out rod comes out with it.
If the rod isn't still secured to the T-handle you've found your problem.
Remove the rod manually and re-secure it to the T-handle.
If the lock-out rod comes out with the T-handle, replace the shifter ball and see if you can shift to reverse.
Today when trying to shift into reverse I could not get the shifter to slide to the left. The t-handle seemed to be working fine and until today I had no problems.
I searched the archives and found numerous threads with similiar problems. After reading through the posts and many suggestions (and seeing John Zs picture) I thought (and hoped with my fingers crossed) that my problem might be solved by the simpliest of suggestions. So I unscrewed the ball just a bit and the shifter now correctly moved into reverse.
I guess that means the rod is a bit long. Is this worth removing and addressing?
Thanks to everyone who takes the time to offer suggestions to help others.
Tom