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Customs transmission locked up in third and reverse. Help!

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Claude Smithey, Mar 23, 2024.

  1. Claude Smithey
    Joined: Apr 12, 2021
    Posts: 6

    Claude Smithey

    20240314_121851.jpg

    1953 Hudson Borg Warner 3 speed OD
     

    Attached Files:

  2. Mac VP
    Joined: May 13, 2014
    Posts: 486

    Mac VP
    Member

    There’s an interlock device between the two shifter shaft and cams that is there to prevent this problem from happening. Generally, it happens when someone forces both external shift levers into a gear position….. that’s not easy to do unless a component of the interlock is damaged or missing. You can try forcing either one of the levers back into its neutral position, which will let the other one move normally. I’d probably try moving the low-reverse lever first. If that fails to work, you’ll have to tear down the transmission to reset everything. Any idea when or how this occurred?
     
    Tim and Cosmo49 like this.
  3. Claude Smithey
    Joined: Apr 12, 2021
    Posts: 6

    Claude Smithey

    Trans has reverse lockout switch. I was adjusting the shifter linkage to get shift rail to contact switch. I PUT IT IN REVERSE AND BACKed OUT IN od BUT WHEN i SHIFTED THE LEVER IT WENT PAST THe stop and locked in reverse. My attempt to move the lever put trans in second, third gear. Sorry about the caps.
     
  4. @Crazy Steve , do you have any help for this rodder, with O/D trans problem?
     
  5. miker98038
    Joined: Jan 24, 2011
    Posts: 1,319

    miker98038
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    If it backed out the o/d should be disengaged or it would have locked up then. Doug Nash (I think) built some 4+1 transmissions for an OT Vette. The shifters were flakey, and you could get into the gate and engage 1st while reverse was still engaged. I did that twice. Binds the transmission real good. You might be able to force it out as Mac suggested. But if it’s really stuck you’ll need to drop the driveshaft and have someone push the clutch while you try from underneath. You need all the slack you can get. If that doesn’t work, well you need to drop the shaft to pull it anyway.
     
    Cosmo49 likes this.
  6. Cosmo49
    Joined: Jan 15, 2007
    Posts: 1,587

    Cosmo49
    Member

    This tech tip is from dearly departed Randy Rundle's GARAGE TECH:

    "Reverse

    In order for the B-W overdrive transmission to back up, the freewheeling clutch MUST be locked out.

    There is a shaft/rod built into the overdrive transmission that automatically accomplishes this whenever the transmission is put into reverse. So to park safely (set the brake) and then either pull out the OD cable OR place the shifter into reverse. This locks up the driveline and prevents all rolling."

    Here's a few questions...
    -Was the overdrive working as normally prior to this episode?
    -Was your Governor working properly before this event? I ask because it is the Governors function (it's a centrifugal switch) to cut power to the Solenoid.
    -You said, "Trans has reverse lockout switch. I was adjusting the shifter linkage to get shift rail to contact switch." If, that is IF you have been trying to muscle it out of the stuck gear in the driver's seat, (I'm assuming you have a column shift) there are a few binding points.
    I would:
    1) Remove the shift rods from the shifter arms on the transmission. It looks like your 1st-R is in neutral and your 2-3 is the hang up as you said. Try moving the 2-3 shifter arm.
    2) Drain out enough gear oil to a level below the side cover, remove the side cover, and then manipulate to break free.
    3) Elevate vehicle and manipulate the driveshaft by turning a rear wheel.

    That's all I have. Hopefully you didn't crunch the overdrive by reverse with the od engaged.

    Provide more pictures for the R-11 guys. My expertise is R-10, which is actually very similar in that R-10 has 3 planetaries, R-11, yours, has 4 planetaries.
     
  7. I've never seen a 'reverse lockout switch' on a BW OD trans that is engaged by the shift linkage. You can find a back-up light switch on some if the car (or trans) had them as optional. As noted, the OD is locked out when reverse is selected but that's done mechanically and is internal to the trans. If someone has wired this switch into the OD circuitry, disconnect it and restore the OEM wiring.

    This is usually a case of worn and/or mal-adjusted shift linkage, or occasionally a damaged R/1- 2/3 internal interlock, also mechanical. Disconnect the linkage from the column at the trans levers, then try moving the levers back to neutral. This make take some screwing around. If you can do that, and the levers will now move freely between neutral R/1 or 2/3 when operated separately, then put the linkage into neutral and adjust it to the levers, also in neutral. If the back-up light switch is used (for back-up lights), you adjust the switch to the lever, not the lever to the switch.

    If you can't get the levers both back to neutral, then the internal interlock is damaged and you'll need to pull the trans and disassemble it to find the problem.
     
    Cosmo49 likes this.
  8. Claude Smithey
    Joined: Apr 12, 2021
    Posts: 6

    Claude Smithey

    Thanks for your suggestions. I was able to get the gears loose tapping on the
    Thanks for your suggestions. I was able to get everything loose by tapping on the interlock teeth and prying on the gears. I had tried this previously but was more forceful this time with success. The Hudson rides again.
     
    TrailerTrashToo and winduptoy like this.
  9. Mr48chev
    Joined: Dec 28, 2007
    Posts: 34,913

    Mr48chev
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Thinking back a lot of years the od trans in my 51 Merc would get stuck between gears and usually when you were putting it in reverse and I blamed it on the cheap (Sparkomatic) floor shift I had in it. That thing was sloppy from day one.
     

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