No reverse gear in TKO600

[rsbrillhart]

Got my car MK4 back from paint and putting the final touches on it before starting the registration. Feeling good until I went out today and couldn't back it out of the garage. It will just not engage into the reverse position. All other gears engage, although 5th is a little harder then 1-4. I've tried going direct to reverse from each gears and nothing and tried with engine running and off. Since it doesn't go into gear with the engine off, I'm thinking it's not a clutch issue, or is that an incorrect assumption?

It's a 302 Carb - TKO600 setup with the Forte hydraulic assist clutch. Only have about 10 miles on this and the last time I drove it worked flawlessly. Any thoughts on what could cause this to all of sudden lose reverse?

[frankb]

Check to be sure you have no interference between the shift lever and frame / tunnel cover / shifter boot, etc, preventing you from actually engaging the far right gears. This was a minor issue on #8317...

[Jim1855]

There's an issue with the TKO-500/600. Don't remember what it was but the internal linkage could jam up. Not sure if that's your problem but maybe it is.

I would expect that info could be found with an internet search.

Jim

[rsbrillhart]

Appreciate the quick replies and suggestions. I'm going to take the tunnel cover off tomorrow. I had taken the car for very short test rides around the subdivision and all was working fine. Well, 1st, 2nd, 3rd and reverse. Odd that it would just jam up out of the blue. I'll research the linkage issue as well. Thanks again.

[NAZ]

Another thing to consider beside interference of the shifter:

Did you check the bellhousing runout? Tremec specs .005" max radial misalignment, less is better. Running a seasoned block, it's common that the mains have been line bored which means the crank is not on the same plane as it was from Ford. But the dowel pins are still in the original location which leads to additional misalignment beyond normal manufacturing variation around target. Too much misalignment can affect shifting and will lead to excessive wear.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fu9bg-fJdnc

[jrcuz]

Also IF the bell housing was not dial indicated and there is a problem Tremec will not cover repairs under warrantee.
JR

[RoadRacer]

I know nothing about the internals of gearboxes, but my TKO600 has been harder to get into reverse than other gears. Aren't reverse gears built differently? When I let the fluid get too low once, and therefore the clutch wasn't working effectively, it was reverse I first noticed it on. One day I stopped and couldn't get it into any gear - and had to top up and rebleed.. never had a problem since but it made me think that reverse may just be the first you'll notice a clutch issue on.

[rsbrillhart]

Thanks for all the replies and suggestions. Fortunately, my issue was pretty minimal. I took the trans tunnel cover apart and discovered that my lower shift stop bolt had worked (vibrated) it's way up. I had set the distance but didn't have a jam nut on it. Easy fix, which is a huge relief after reading about all the issues people are having with this transmission.

This was a BP crate engine/tranny combination, so I'm assuming the specs are all set at the factory. Or at least I hope, as it's beyond my skills to start taking apart the transmission.