The Ford Barn

arefftx · 05-12-2024, 02:16 PM

Can't seem to shift my 29 Roadster into reverse! The gearshift won't go there.
I jacked up the rear end and the rear wheels turn freely; the clutch appears to be engaging......any thoughts?

Gary WA · 05-12-2024, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arefftx

Can't seem to shift my 29 Roadster into reverse! The gearshift won't go there.
I jacked up the rear end and the rear wheels turn freely; the clutch appears to be engaging......any thoughts?

UP to the Left? Toward dash panel?

arefftx · 05-12-2024, 03:30 PM

Yes that is the position the gear shift won't go up & left toward dashboard.

nkaminar · 05-12-2024, 04:55 PM

There may be something wrong in the tower (the gear shifting mechanism). It could be the detents or the pins or a blockage of the shaft that holds the shifting forks. Take the floor boards out and then take the tower out. Try moving the reverse gear into mesh. It is at the rear on the main shaft and goes into a idler gear. If that is good then the problem is in the tower. You will have to take that apart to figure out why it is not shifting into reverse. DO NOT START THE ENGINE WITH THE TOWER OFF.

arefftx · 05-12-2024, 07:09 PM

Thanks for the response, I'll check all your suggestions and let you know what I find.....Thanks
Alan

Brentwood Bob · 05-12-2024, 07:25 PM

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Look for a broken rivet/pin that holds each fork in position. Or the detents may be worn.
I did a series on rebuilding the shift tower that might help.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=BCIpZuxoLpQ

jimvette59 · 05-13-2024, 06:52 AM

Did you try to shift to second,third,first then reverse. Try it a couple of times. IMO

Dino's A · 05-13-2024, 09:07 AM

The problem is in the tower. After you take it off, you might want to drain the oil and
check for any metal pieces that might of been a rivet or ??? Need help overhauling the tower? Here is Tom Endy's tutorial. As always, spot on. We are blessed to have him as
a member of our club. And, I followed this and Tom makes it easy to do. You might have to find a welder to weld up the worn portion of the forks. I'm lucky, 2 years of metal shop are paying off dividends, so I can weld.

https://www.santaanitaas.org/wp-cont...estoration.pdf

05-12-2024, 02:16 PM	#1
arefftx Member Join Date: Sep 2021 Location: Friday Harbor, Washington Posts: 46	Shifting to reverse Can't seem to shift my 29 Roadster into reverse! The gearshift won't go there. I jacked up the rear end and the rear wheels turn freely; the clutch appears to be engaging......any thoughts?

05-12-2024, 03:30 PM	#3
arefftx Member Join Date: Sep 2021 Location: Friday Harbor, Washington Posts: 46	Re: Shifting to reverse Yes that is the position the gear shift won't go up & left toward dashboard.

05-12-2024, 04:55 PM	#4
nkaminar Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Western North Carolina Posts: 4,016	Re: Shifting to reverse There may be something wrong in the tower (the gear shifting mechanism). It could be the detents or the pins or a blockage of the shaft that holds the shifting forks. Take the floor boards out and then take the tower out. Try moving the reverse gear into mesh. It is at the rear on the main shaft and goes into a idler gear. If that is good then the problem is in the tower. You will have to take that apart to figure out why it is not shifting into reverse. DO NOT START THE ENGINE WITH THE TOWER OFF. __________________ A is for apple, green as the sky. Step on the gas, for tomorrow I die. Forget the brakes, they really don't work. The clutch always sticks, and starts with a jerk. My car grows red hair, and flies through the air. Driving's a blast, a blast from the past. Last edited by nkaminar; 05-13-2024 at 06:31 AM.

05-12-2024, 07:09 PM	#5
arefftx Member Join Date: Sep 2021 Location: Friday Harbor, Washington Posts: 46	Re: Shifting to reverse Thanks for the response, I'll check all your suggestions and let you know what I find.....Thanks Alan

05-12-2024, 07:25 PM	#6
Brentwood Bob Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: brentwood, ca Posts: 4,286	Re: Shifting to reverse Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Look for a broken rivet/pin that holds each fork in position. Or the detents may be worn. I did a series on rebuilding the shift tower that might help. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=BCIpZuxoLpQ Last edited by Brentwood Bob; 05-13-2024 at 12:44 AM.

05-13-2024, 06:52 AM	#7
jimvette59 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Perry OH Posts: 1,338	Re: Shifting to reverse Did you try to shift to second,third,first then reverse. Try it a couple of times. IMO

05-13-2024, 09:07 AM	#8
Dino's A Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Arcadia, Ca. Posts: 254	Re: Shifting to reverse The problem is in the tower. After you take it off, you might want to drain the oil and check for any metal pieces that might of been a rivet or ??? Need help overhauling the tower? Here is Tom Endy's tutorial. As always, spot on. We are blessed to have him as a member of our club. And, I followed this and Tom makes it easy to do. You might have to find a welder to weld up the worn portion of the forks. I'm lucky, 2 years of metal shop are paying off dividends, so I can weld. https://www.santaanitaas.org/wp-cont...estoration.pdf __________________ 1928 Roadster Pickup 1930 Tudor 1943 Ford WWII Jeep 1968 Taco Minibike Member, Santa Anita Model A's Arcadia Ca. Last edited by Dino's A; 05-14-2024 at 08:58 AM.