Stuck in Reverse when gear lever is in neutral, wtf? Help please!

[pyite20v]

Went to back my car out of the garage, and it wouldnt move, although RPMS would drop as I let out the clutch like it was in gear, but didnt have enough power to move the car. This was in any gear I tried. But then when I put the shift lever in neutral, the car would reverse! If I put it in reverse it wouldnt move.

Where do I start with this one?

And I was so excited to get to go for a drive finally.

[Ronnie's.930]

Here is the 1st page of a search for "stuck in reverse" (many previous threads on the subject) -

Pelican Parts Technical BBS - Search Results

[pyite20v]

Okay did a bunch of searches, and led myself to find my shifter coupler bushings were completely gone!


Phew, some of the other possibilites I read on here scared me. Guess Ill be working on the car today instead of driving it.

[ivangene]

I was about to say - crumbled coupler bushings

I have seen many

[Porchcar guy]

Talk to ivangene about his coupler...many of us are VERY happy with the difference in shifting !

[pyite20v]

Ivangene, what are you using for a coupler?

Here is another twist, I have a 72 with a 915. Would I be looking for 915 coupler bushings and shifting parts (may as well replace all my bushings, as its already a very sloppy gate), or am I looking for 901 parts?

[pyite20v]

Ivangene, what are you using for a coupler?

Here is another twist, I have a 72 with a 915. Would I be looking for 915 coupler bushings and shifting parts (may as well replace all my bushings, as its already a very sloppy gate), or am I looking for 901 parts?

[howard freeman]

The shifter in the photo is a 915 shifter,not a 901.
Howard

[Reiver]

looks like a 915 to me and man you have no coupler bushings at all...I'm surprised you could find any gear!

[howard freeman]

Here is what you will need. 911 424 139 00 quanity1, 911 424 223 03 quanity 2, 914 424 224 00 quanity 1. That should take care of the bushings.
Howard

[Arne2]

Yes, the coupler bushings must be changed.

But -- The fact that the car would not move when you selected any forward gear tells me that the transmission is stuck in reverse, and when you selected a forward gear as well, that locks the transmission. You will still need to get the transmission out of reverse, and you may want to do that before you try to install and adjust the coupler w/new bushings.

Here is my thread on the issue. You will likely have to do the same.

915 prob fixed. Big thanks to Pelican forums and John Walker!

[pyite20v]

You guys are amazing, thank you so much for your help!

I am going to be replacing all the bushings, and then see if I am stuck in reverse or not.

[SLR]

Yeah had the same problems with mine a month ago, I was adjusting the coupler and put the gear leaver to the neutral and left then titend it all up, in neutral and let the clutch out and it was in revers? put into 1st did not go any where. Diked about with it for some time and found with only very small amounts of rotation of the coupler that I found all gears where they should be and have left it there. Though I must say in doing this, that the car dose not stick in 5th gear and shifts into and out of 2nd some what eyseyr. Notchy but it dose feel right.

[ivangene]

PM sent - I got you covered - I am in the middle of converting an early car to the 915 housing - did you do that or someone before your time

[uwanna]

Originally Posted by Porchcar guy

Talk to ivangene about his coupler...many of us are VERY happy with the difference in shifting !

Check here, and read about Ivangene's coupler bushing product, they are fantastic.

read here:
The Coupler Whisperer

[jlcinga]

Repeating advice that was posted here and has served me well after I had the dreaded stuck-in-reverse problem:

Never, Never shift into or out of reverse gear unless you are DEAD stopped...not moving and with your foot on the brake.