wont shift into Reverse

[48Windsor]

My 48 Windsor , with fluiddrive trans wont shift into reverse but has all forward gears. It seemed fine before I put in rear motor mounts . now this. Can anyone help.

[chirorod]

Sounds like shift linkage needs adjusting.

[John Kunkel]

Yep, the shift linkage has probably been readjusted several times to compensate for a sagging rear mount....time for an adjustment by the book.

[48Windsor]

Thank you both for the replies . Can you expand at all

[chirorod]

Can't remember all the changes of direction. So all I can say is the rods are adjustable for length. Play with the adjustment until it goes into gear, making it sure it doesn't pop out.

[48Windsor]

Chirod , thank you for the reply.
I have been beating the bush and came up with, the fact that it could be electrical. Now that is something to think about . While I had floor board out I used a degreaser,and brakecleaner to clean the Trans housing .Maybe when hosing it off it got into the wiring.
My manual does not say too much about the trans . If anyone has any schematics or useful info it would be greatly appreciated .


James

[John Kunkel]

To my knowledge, the transmission electrical circuits only deal with the upshifting and kickdown...if the trans operates normally in the forward gears the wiring is OK.

[48Windsor]

Thanks John kunkel. After looking at book again I found nothing elec that referred to rev.
Next question than I cant find straight 10 w oil for this Trans . Well I did but it was referred to as fork oil @$16 QT ON Amazon. Do u think it has to b straight 10W?

[chirorod]

Have to defer to better judgment on the oil. Did a motor rebuild on a 48 DeSoto, but that was 50 years ago.

[whtbaron]

I'd like to say that the 10W recommendation probably happened before ATF was common, and that you could likely swap in a good ATF or light trans-hydraulic, but I've never even seen one of those trannies so don't listen to my advice either.

[John Kunkel]

Some folks use tractor hydraulic fluid like John Deere Hygard low viscosity.

[whtbaron]

That's where I was thinking... although we routinely purchase trans-hydraulic from the local Co-op for our John Deere tractors much cheaper than Hygard. If all you need is a light oil with minimal detergents, that one won't foam at over 5,000 psi.

[whtbaron]

I know Woolie found you the 10W on the other post, but there's also synthetic trans-hydraulic that would be interchangeable with Hygard that we use in truck hoists for cold weather operation. If you were to go with a trans-hydraulic, I think that's the one I would try. I've used trans-hydraulic in older Mopar power steering systems before with no problems.

[48Windsor]

Wht baron Thank you . as long as I have been here and post a question . I can count on you to answer . and Chirod too

[48Windsor]

John Kunkel , dont want to forget about you . thank you. Im appreciative of the guys on this board . Im sure I will be back . Hopefully I will learn enough to maybe help someone else .

[48Windsor]

Ok guys just came in from underneath the car . I twisted the adjustment nut to the back of the car so far nothing but wish me luck

[chirorod]

I doubt that any of us has a feel for this adjustment, so it would be the same for us: trial and error. I suspect the rod will have to lengthened a bit. Now that I think of it, the linkage at the steering column can wear and looseness there can be part of the problem.

[whtbaron]

I've never seen one, so I'm not much help, but if you haven't checked this out it might help u a bit.
http://www.imperialclub.com/Repair/L...012B/cover.htm

[whtbaron]

Another mickey mouse manual, but look at page 23 where it talks about locking up the reverse and forward gears... any chance that has happened by accident?
http://www.imperialclub.com/Repair/L...024/page23.htm
Other than that, I'm wondering if raising the back of the tranny has put something in bind at the top or rear of the tranny? Hitting a bolt or brace or something?

[48Windsor]

Chirod and whtbaron u guys guys come through again . Whats weird is I was looking for that Chrysler handbook I had referred to before but couldnt find it so when you sent the link I was like Yeah!.
The steering mech is worn out .Thanks What do I call all that so I know what to look for for parts.

[whtbaron]

You talking about the shift mechanism in the column, or at the base of the column?

[whtbaron]

video variation of the same info...might be something else in here...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLZcbFHIN1M

[48Windsor]

whtbaron, Im talking about mechanism under the hood and attached to steering column. I watched the video pretty informative thanks

[whtbaron]

If the holes are worn out, could it be rebuilt with metal, brass, or by adding bushings?

[48Windsor]

yes.something has to be done . I read an earlier post of yours with the page23 it got me to thinkin . I hope I didnt make a costly mistake by jacking up Trans to replace the motoer mounts.
I did find and made an adj. to a linkage I didnt see before . Its under hood just underneath the steering column. I took up some slack in hopes of thinkin it would work . But to no luck so it might be until this weekend til I get a chance to look at it again.
Wish me luck

[48Windsor]

Great news I now have Reverse. Wow . I got it fixed. Evidently as the car got older and old rubber mounts sagged the rod adj. got longer , so whenI installed new taller ones it shortened the throw. I learned about Trans and clutch adj too.
Thank you all for advice . Im sure I will be back . This car is far from finished.

[whtbaron]

So now we can talk about adding the turbo onto the flathead?

[48Windsor]

Haha you are funny.