3 Speed Trans Won't Shift into Reverse

Todd in WA

Todd in WA

Member
I have a 41 Ford Pick up I recently finished doing an engine swap and put a flathead back in. This is a newly rebuilt flathead with new clutch.
The problem I am having is it will not go into reverse. All 3 forward gears are perfect but reverse will not lock in.
Everything was working normal with not problems, before the changeout and the trans was recently rebuilt. I pulled the shifter cover off and all the teeth are good with no chips or teeth missing.
When trying to put in reverse it sounds like it is trying to engage.
Could this possibly be a clutch problem instead of a ****** problem?

And yes, the truck is running and not moving when I shift it into reverse.
 
Recheck the clutch throw adjustment. It sounds like the the clutch disc is just slightly dragging on the pressure plate even with the clutch fully depressed. This causes the main shaft to turn and this is turning the cluster gear. Because the cluster gear has a slight load on it and spins it is difficult to engage reverse and you experience a grinding sound with a failure to engage reverse gear.
 
To eliminate any transmission problem you should be able to shift into reverse without the engine running...if not there may be something wrong in the shift tower. With the tower off you should also be able to physically slide the low-reverse gear back into the reverse position engaging the reverse idler.
 
You don't say if it is a top shifter or on the side. They came both ways. Pull off the side cover and see if the rear fork isn't spun around the wrong way. Fred A
 
How about the reverse idler gear being installed backwards with the blunt end of the teeth facing the slider insted of the beveled end?

Chris
 
Thank you all for responding. This is a top shifter and was fully operational prior to the engine swap. When I purchased the truck earlier this year, it had a C#%*&Y 327 with the 3 speed top shift mounted behind it. It worked great.
I agree with Dick Spadaro diagnosis.
I am going to check this out.
 
All the above advice is good. If you have a toploader, I would (after eliminating the clutch adjustment issue) guess that the low/reverse slider gear is on backwards. The shifting fork groove should be to the rear side. The gear will slide onto the mainshaft in either direction, but would not align sufficiently with the reverse idler gear if placed backwards.
 
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