Packard Forum Index » Post-War (1946-54)

If you take the assembly out and apart, be aware that there is a small disk at the lower end between the spring and the cotter pin that may go flying if not careful. The photos do not show it.

If you have an Overdrive a problem in that unit could be locking out reverse but would not affect first. Since you say it will not go into either R or 1 and neither is selectable by the operator lever but you can move the levers at the transmission by hand and select all gears, there must be a linkage issue.

What happens with rods disconnected and you move the operator lever. Before tearing anything apart I would have a helper pull the operator lever back toward the steering wheel and then slowly move the lever like he was going to try to shift into first or reverse.

With the helper doing that you try to hold and keep the upper 2-3 lever from turning. Will having the operator trying to shift only move the lower R-1 lever by itself? If the selector moves out of the upper lever and engages the lower lever and it turns but you can still easily hold the upper 2-3 lever then it is doubtful anything is stuck inside the shift tube and shaft. If there is ANY movement of the upper 2-3 lever when trying to shift into R or 1 the geometry of the linkage will tend to move 2-3 at the transmission before any movement reaches the other transmission lever and that unwanted 2-3 movement will lock out R-1.

If the operator lever cannot be pulled back or if it can but nothing or not enough happens to fully release the upper lever and engage the lower lever, if the upper lever is sticking or mechanically still trying to turn then it is possible something is stuck or broken inside the shift tube and shaft and it will need to be disassembled..