Transmission won't shift into reverse
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Transmission won't shift into reverse
First time poster here --
I have an '81 F150 4.9L with the 3sp w/ OD transmission (SROD). Today I decided to check the fluid level for the gear oil in the tranny, assuming that it was probably low and probably hadn't been changed in years and years and years--this is the old farm truck, recently passed down to me.
After checking the level and topping it off with some 85W gear oil (planning on flushing and refilling it soon anyway), I started the truck, ran thru the gears, and it won't go into reverse! The actual shifter will easily go into the slot for reverse, but nothing. I can let out the clutch and it acts just like it's in neutral. I don't know what i possible could have done just pulling out the bolt, adding some fluid, and then tightening it back up.
Also, it easily goes into 1st and can drive around no problem -- just NO REVERSE!!
I tried searching the forums, if i'm reposting let me know and pleeeeaaaase direct me to the solution.
thanks
I have an '81 F150 4.9L with the 3sp w/ OD transmission (SROD). Today I decided to check the fluid level for the gear oil in the tranny, assuming that it was probably low and probably hadn't been changed in years and years and years--this is the old farm truck, recently passed down to me.
After checking the level and topping it off with some 85W gear oil (planning on flushing and refilling it soon anyway), I started the truck, ran thru the gears, and it won't go into reverse! The actual shifter will easily go into the slot for reverse, but nothing. I can let out the clutch and it acts just like it's in neutral. I don't know what i possible could have done just pulling out the bolt, adding some fluid, and then tightening it back up.
Also, it easily goes into 1st and can drive around no problem -- just NO REVERSE!!
I tried searching the forums, if i'm reposting let me know and pleeeeaaaase direct me to the solution.
thanks
Last edited by ctubutis; Jun 10, 2012 at 09:46 PM. Reason: Fixed title
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Welcome to the forum! 
Ya know, I've read something similar to your problem not real long ago, guy took his truck to one of those 20-minute-oil-change places to have tranny oil added (or changed, or whatever) and something was screwed up on the transmission afterwards. I think it was the result of removing the wrong bolt in the side of the transmission, this one I think has a matching one on the other side and is part of the transmission assembly itself and not a fill/drain plug.
You can probably find it in the archives here in 80-86, I think it was within the past 4-5-6-or so months.
Hope this helps.
Ya know, I've read something similar to your problem not real long ago, guy took his truck to one of those 20-minute-oil-change places to have tranny oil added (or changed, or whatever) and something was screwed up on the transmission afterwards. I think it was the result of removing the wrong bolt in the side of the transmission, this one I think has a matching one on the other side and is part of the transmission assembly itself and not a fill/drain plug.
You can probably find it in the archives here in 80-86, I think it was within the past 4-5-6-or so months.
Hope this helps.
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Well, I searched and couldn't find it, maybe it was part of a much longer thread.
With that being said, maybe one of the guys here who knows something about those things will stop by.
With that being said, maybe one of the guys here who knows something about those things will stop by.
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Ya know, I actually remember that exact thing happening to my dad while he still owned THIS truck!! Jiffy-lube type place that just did a basic service and it wouldn't go into reverse afterwards! Really jogged my memory there. I wish i knew how it was fixed...
I had thought exactly that (wrong bolt, wrong side) and smacked myself in the head after realizing it, but the bolt REALLY looks like what they showed in the Chilton manual. I looked on the other side after this happened and the passenger side bolt, while actually looking a lot more like it'd be for a filler :-/, is much smaller and just doesn't look like the diagram i saw. Shouldn't trust Chilton so much, I know...
If in fact this bolt was an important part of the tranny, since i'm sure you're on to something here... what could it be? How could i pull it out, then put it back exactly the same yet ruin something? It was a 13/16 bolt if that helps :-/ driver's side.
I wish I knew anything more about transmissions!! Gaaaahhhh
I had thought exactly that (wrong bolt, wrong side) and smacked myself in the head after realizing it, but the bolt REALLY looks like what they showed in the Chilton manual. I looked on the other side after this happened and the passenger side bolt, while actually looking a lot more like it'd be for a filler :-/, is much smaller and just doesn't look like the diagram i saw. Shouldn't trust Chilton so much, I know...
If in fact this bolt was an important part of the tranny, since i'm sure you're on to something here... what could it be? How could i pull it out, then put it back exactly the same yet ruin something? It was a 13/16 bolt if that helps :-/ driver's side.
I wish I knew anything more about transmissions!! Gaaaahhhh
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Nope...not the one that we were thinking of...but the same problem
We had one on here just a month ago or so.
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Thanks Doug (that's my name, too!!)
Seems like it could be it, of course I hope it isn't because it would suck to take it to a trans shop to fix my two-minute blunder......
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I think this was the other thread - www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1160412-1983-f250-diesel-tranny.html
but it's a T19, not an SROD.
but it's a T19, not an SROD.
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I think this was the other thread - www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1160412-1983-f250-diesel-tranny.html
but it's a T19, not an SROD.
but it's a T19, not an SROD.
That's the one Ken!!!
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Well, it's fixed -- i took it into the shop, since I have absolutely NO transmission work experience. But since I explained the problem (pin-thingy that holds the forks of the reverse gear fell down into the tranny) they had it fixed no problem. Those previous threads were great for reference! Still, 350 bucks....
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I just went through a similar experience with my T19. I pulled the bolt that held on the reverse shifter arm. I had to pick up a new c clip, set the arm, and put the pin back in. Real pain in the ****; it turned a what should have been a 20 min gear oil change into a three day ordeal.
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