HELP NO REVERSE! 65 barracuda

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acidspitstormchild

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Just got myself into a car that has forward gears but will not engage reverse. I’m hoping it’s something that can be fixed by adjusting the low reverse band & or gearshift control cable.. but after seeing the kickdown linkage was missing, I know it’s probably time for clutches. Anyone got away with a simple fix for this?

IMG_6975.jpeg
 
You say it has no kick down linkage, have you looked at the fluid level, does it have a burnt odor is it red or dark color?
Next you need to get under car and look to see if lever at trans is not connected to anything or wired back with some PSI increasing some pressure.
You say it has all forward gears; does it slip when shifting into 3rd gear?
Get up to 30 mph and then let of throttle, shift into 1st gear does it have engine braking in manual 1st gear, let us know what you find for more info.
 
I lost reverse in my Roadrunnrmer back in the day. Pulled the pan and the link between the band and servo was laying in the pan.
 
No kickdown is the kiss of death to a mopar TF trans. Just a few hundred miles is all it takes to ruin clutches.

Otherwise it can break the reverse band or servo. Have you driven it down the road? Check how well 3rd gear engages and holds with a load.
 
Thanks for all the suggestions I haven’t really driven it hard yet because Im waiting for a kickdown replacement. Didn’t want to ruin the transmission further (if tool man Mike is correct could throw that lever around). I suppose I should say it goes forward in low second and drive, but not reverse. I really appreciate it and will follow out diagnostic procedures.
 
413 said:
No kickdown is the kiss of death to a mopar TF trans. Just a few hundred miles is all it takes to ruin clutches.

Otherwise it can break the reverse band or servo. Have you driven it down the road? Check how well 3rd gear engages and holds with a load.
Click to expand...
413 said:
No kickdown is the kiss of death to a mopar TF trans. Just a few hundred miles is all it takes to ruin clutches.

Otherwise it can break the reverse band or servo. Have you driven it down the road? Check how well 3rd gear engages and holds with a load.
Click to expand...
when I drove it, throttle was very jumpy. Could be that the pedal and linkage setup is wrong, could be transmission running through gears, because of the missing kickdown. Will start diagnosing once that’s all installed and adjusted. Thanks for the reply
 
moparlvr166 said:
You say it has no kick down linkage, have you looked at the fluid level, does it have a burnt odor is it red or dark color?
Next you need to get under car and look to see if lever at trans is not connected to anything or wired back with some PSI increasing some pressure.
You say it has all forward gears; does it slip when shifting into 3rd gear?
Get up to 30 mph and then let of throttle, shift into 1st gear does it have engine braking in manual 1st gear, let us know what you find for more info.
Click to expand...
Fluid is full and clean, would this test damage the transmission further since it has no kickdown setup? Was going to install and adjust it before any test. Thanks for the response!
 
moparlvr166 said:
You say it has no kick down linkage, have you looked at the fluid level, does it have a burnt odor is it red or dark color?
Next you need to get under car and look to see if lever at trans is not connected to anything or wired back with some PSI increasing some pressure.
You say it has all forward gears; does it slip when shifting into 3rd gear?
Get up to 30 mph and then let of throttle, shift into 1st gear does it have engine braking in manual 1st gear, let us know what you find for more info.
Click to expand...
So the whole setup is there except for this guy
moparlvr166 said:
You say it has no kick down linkage, have you looked at the fluid level, does it have a burnt odor is it red or dark color?
Next you need to get under car and look to see if lever at trans is not connected to anything or wired back with some PSI increasing some pressure.
You say it has all forward gears; does it slip when shifting into 3rd gear?
Get up to 30 mph and then let of throttle, shift into 1st gear does it have engine braking in manual 1st gear, let us know what you find for more info.
Click to expand...
so it’s got the full kick down except for this guy so it doesn’t actuate from the carb

IMG_8780.jpeg
 
Surely an issue with the low/reverse band. Assuming it's a 904, those early ones are known for breaking the anchor on the band. Toolman has a valid point as well, pull the pan and check the band strut.
 
408 swinger said:
Surely an issue with the low/reverse band. Assuming it's a 904, those early ones are known for breaking the anchor on the band. Toolman has a valid point as well, pull the pan and check the band strut.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the reply. Was hoping there was something i could do without pulling the pan. I figured I’d have to
 
acidspitstormchild said:
Thanks for the reply. Was hoping there was something i could do without pulling the pan. I figured I’d have to
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Hate to be the bearer of bad news, be prepared to maybe pull the trans. If the band itself is broken, only way to get to it is through complete trans disassembly. Post up pics when you get to it.
 
408 swinger said:
Hate to be the bearer of bad news, be prepared to maybe pull the trans. If the band itself is broken, only way to get to it is through complete trans disassembly. Post up pics when you get to it.
Click to expand...
the reverse band is pretty heavy duty so I doubt it is but I will keep everyone posted. going to get it on stands this week. EDIT never mind i guess its cheap and weak
 
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One of the guys I worked with at the Chrysler Plymouth dealership in the early 1980's mom had a 1962 or 63 Lancer with a slant six and push button trans. She broke the reverse band twice, backing out of the driveway. She would start the engine, and when it was on fast idle she would put it in reverse, and break the band.
 
Sterling said:
One of the guys I worked with at the Chrysler Plymouth dealership in the early 1980's mom had a 1962 or 63 Lancer with a slant six and push button trans. She broke the reverse band twice, backing out of the driveway. She would start the engine, and when it was on fast idle she would put it in reverse, and break the band.
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so basically if you throw it in reverse while the engines still heating up you will break the reverse band? mines a 273 with consul shifter. BTW on the hunt for a commando air cleaner if anyone has it for sale
 
Older cars, you would press the accelerator pedal a couple of times, to pump fuel into the engine and set the choke blade closed. With the choke on, a fast idle cam holds the throttle blades open to increase the idle speed cold. Normally, after the engine starts, a vacuum diaphragm opens the choke blade slightly, and will move the fast idle cam to a slower speed, if you open the throttle blades slightly with the accelerator pedal. But if you start the engine and don't kick off the fast idle, like my coworker's mom, the cold atf fluid and high idle speed can break the reverse band.
 
Sterling said:
But if you start the engine and don't kick off the fast idle, like my coworker's mom, the cold atf fluid and high idle speed can break the reverse band
Click to expand...
I think she was doing reverse burnouts out the driveway! :rofl:
 
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