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Regards The reverse gear on my manual transmission 1946 Clipper has recently stopped working , I can’t see anything disconnected on the linkage so what could be the problem ?
Don Gibson

One common problem with various gear shift issues is a lack of lubrication on the shift levers at the base of the steering column. The upper lever is always engaged with the operator lever when the lever is in the normal relaxed position. When you go to shift into reverse or first by pulling the lever back the lower shift lever is selected. The issue arises because there is no lubrication provided for the upper lever and it is exposed to any condensed moisture and dirt that is on the shift tube. Water and dirt can run down the tube and get in behind the lever causing it to rust and corrode to the tube making it stick so it always tries to rotate when you select any gear. Because of the interlock mechanism in the transmission and the geometry of the two shift levers and rods second might be trying to engage before reverse because of the sticking upper lever moving its rod before the lower lever has a chance to move anything to go into reverse. If that happens reverse is then locked out because of the interlock in the trans. The two levers must be absolutely free to rotate independently on the tube so if one is selected the other stays still.

Referring to the photo, you might try some oil in the hole and particularly at the top of the upper lever. If the problem is not too bad that might be all that is needed. If the upper lever has really stuck to the shift tube it might take some penetrating fluid or in the worst case, disassembly to clean and free things. The lower lever is usually not much problem because it is more protected and can get some oil from any placed in the hole in the tube.




If oil does not help and the car has overdrive there could be a mechanical issue inside the OD unit or an electrical issue outside so OD is staying engaged. A mechanical interlock in the OD unit would then prevent reverse from being selected if OD is engaged. If no overdrive there could also be a problem with the detent and interlock block inside the transmission although problems there would probably show up in other gears too.

Good Morning...Just some thoughts from our first year with our 49 Deluxe 288 with overdrive. She would get stuck between gears and end up with just reverse and first gear...We did two things which worked in our case...perhaps much different than what you are facing. We drained the transmission, flushed it and changed to 140 weight oil. We also changed the washers and cotter pins, on the actual shift pins where the turn buckles are, as everything was sloppy at that point. The old girl has now shifted as she should for the last 11 plus years...She's a chubby chick...and we love her! Ernie in Arizona