Can't shift into Reverse Gear (4-speed)

[Rockett]

4-speed: I can't get my shifter to the left of the "H" pattern, so as to push it up into reverse gear. (It *was* working fine!)

All other gears are shifting fine. But I only have H rather than '-H

I looked underneath & everything looks OK ...no obvious damage or interference on the linkage. In fact, it seems like when the shifter is in neutral, I can manually move the reverse rod & lever (under the car) and it sounds like it clunks into reverse.

FSM has a procedure for "Gearshift Linkage Adjustment", but they show a special tool ("Lever Aligning Tool") that holds the levers in the neutral cross-over position at the "control mechanism assembly" (where the shifter does its magic). And this procedure simply adjusts the length of the shift rods.... but my problem seems to be that I can't get far enough 'left' while in the neutral position, so as to grab reverse.

Any ideas?

 

[Dipstick]

Hurst shifter or Inland?

 

[Rockett]

Hurst shifter or Inland?

Hurst (...with the pistol grip, if that makes any difference).

 

[yella71]

could be troube.....it worked fine then not? eather the shifter broke or the trans broke.....maby. something moved. Its easy to adjut the shifter you dis connect all the shift rods from the shifter align the levers to the neutral position insert a drill bit in place of the "special "Tool, in the center hole,( I cant remember if its 1/4 or 5/16 size) adjust all the rods to hook up with no issue . make sure the trans is all in neutrial positions first then adjust thr rods. if that doesn't work you may have an issue in the trans

 

[HEMI-ITIS]

You can use a straight pick or really small phillips in the alignment hole.

 

[Rockett]

could be troube.....it worked fine then not? eather the shifter broke or the trans broke.....maby. something moved.

It was always just a *bit* tricky getting reverse.... an extra little effort to find that path off the "H" over to reverse. But, from previous experience with other Mopars of the era, I thought that was pretty normal. It was never a really a struggle.

Everything worked OK last time I backed it up, but without any warning it just won't go there now.

I'm sure the tranny is fine... no noises & 1 thru 4 shift nicely. IMO, Its got to be the linkage or that "control mechanism assembly" (as labeled in the FSM) that the shifter goes into from above. (Can't really see into that assembly... & looks like the tranny would have to come out to take it off).

"Neutral" feels fine back-n-forth on the shifter in the car. I just can't go 'left' of the 1-4 "H" pattern. There's no "L" path off the "H" anymore

 

[yella71]

do the shifter adjustment remove all the rods and jack up the car, you can put the trans in all gears manually so you can tell if the trans is right . if you cant put the trans in reverse with out the shifter some thing is wrong. if you line up all the shift levers and still not get reverse something is wrong there.

 

[Rockett]

You can use a straight pick or really small phillips in the alignment hole.

The picture in the FSM isn't really clear.
Do I understand this correctly? ....put tranny in neutral, then put a small phillips or drill-bit thru an "alignment hole" just under (or at the bottom of) that "control mechanism assembly"? And this would be inserting it towards the front? i.e. from rear to front, parallel with the drive-train/tranny? (not from L to R towards the tranny?)

 

[Fran Blacker]

Are the shift rods worn and sloppy? The levers have nylon bushings they could be missing/broken. Bronze bushing are available. In neutral is the stick sloppy? Spring inside mechanism broken? Link to show where drill bit should go, near where levers go into body of shifter.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Hurst-5030...AOSwfDldRRvQ:sc:FedExHomeDelivery!06410!US!-1

 

[yella71]

All right im gonna go out on a limb and say you haven't done this before. Lets call the control mechanism assmembly the shifter. first you need to get the car up on 4 jack stands so you can get under it comfortably. next put the trans in neutral remove the shift rods from the shifter under the car. There will be 3 levers on the shifter the rods are connected to. when you put the shifter in neutral the levers will be lined up . you will put the alignment tool in the shifter through the center hole of the levers towards the trans. then you adjust the rods so they will go in the levers without moving the levers.

 

[mopar 3 B]

That or the reverse lockout could have something wrong with it. Consist of nothing but a spring and lever. If the other doesn't work just remove the shifter and send it to Hurst for a rebuild.

 

[coloradodave]

The wonder of Google:https://www.shifterdoc.com/3733166_Install.PDF

 

[kiwigtx]

You can use a 1/4" bolt about 2" long as the pin for alignment.

 

[kiwigtx]

Close-up of me sliding in an adjustment bolt for shifter alignment

 

[mopar 3 B]

If that were only possible. I can not drop the transmission mount and lower the transmission that far without removing the shifter. Bench seat four speed car. But with the proper alignment tool it is possible by just removing the shifter boot. Just don't drop the tool. I really though about just drilling a hole into the tunnel and capping it. Whom would ever notice a quarter inch hole in the carpeting anyway.

 

[Rockett]

Are the shift rods worn and sloppy? The levers have nylon bushings they could be missing/broken. Bronze bushing are available. In neutral is the stick sloppy? Spring inside mechanism broken? Link to show where drill bit should go, near where levers go into body of shifter.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Hurst-5030...AOSwfDldRRvQ:sc:FedExHomeDelivery!06410!US!-1

Yeah, underneath the shift rods aren't tight ... they're "sloppy", I guess, ...looser than they should be.
FBBO member here who has helped me with this car says to get a steel bushing Hurst Pit Pack. That's on the to-do list.
Maybe that will resolve the no-reverse issue.
Thanks for the link & I see now that the alignment pin will go L to R towards the transmission. The photo in the FSM wasn't especially clear on that. The specialized tool (shown below in red) has a couple of different pins in different directions. Looks like the "specialized tool" is way over-engineered!

 

[Rockett]

Close-up of me sliding in an adjustment bolt for shifter alignment

View attachment 811964

View attachment 811965

Thanks for those photos. Very helpful !!!

 

[Rockett]

All right im gonna go out on a limb and say you haven't done this before. Lets call the control mechanism assmembly the shifter. first you need to get the car up on 4 jack stands so you can get under it comfortably. next put the trans in neutral remove the shift rods from the shifter under the car. There will be 3 levers on the shifter the rods are connected to. when you put the shifter in neutral the levers will be lined up . you will put the alignment tool in the shifter through the center hole of the levers towards the trans. then you adjust the rods so they will go in the levers without moving the levers.

Thanks much! I'm still pretty much a newbie with MOPARs (fortunately, my car is providing me with a steep learning curve!)

You guys are great with all the help in clarifying things for me!

 

[kiwigtx]

Looks like the "specialized tool" is way over-engineered!

Exactly...a simple bolt does the same job.

BTW....good call checking and replacing the bushings

 

[hunt2elk]

Here is a pic of the alignment tool that is in your service manual pic. Definitely not a needed item, but cool to have.