Transmission will not go into reverse

Took the boat out yesterday for a mid-week wake session. She fired up just fine, but reverse would not engage. :( I was able to but the throttle all the way in reverse but the transmission would not engage in reverse. I thought at first maybe some gunk had clogged up in there, so I drove around for a while hoping that heating it up would knock it lose, but no dice. I checked the fluid level and it seemed to have plenty, maybe even a tad too much fluid. I inspected the linkage as well and it looks free and clear. Just to reiterate, she worked flawlessly in forward, but no reverse what so ever. I was thinking maybe the screen might be clogged causing an issue? I really don’t want to rebuild this guy, but it could have happened at a worse time I guess (middle of July).

First, make sure that the shift linkage is properly actuating the selector on the transmission. I'd disconnect the cable from the transmission and manually engage it forward and reverse. You can feel the definite detents as the arm is moved through forward/neutral/reverse. If it still won't engage when manually put into reverse, might try a fluid flush/change. Otherwise, sounds like rebuild time...

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Originally Posted by sybrmike

First, make sure that the shift linkage is properly actuating the selector on the transmission. I'd disconnect the cable from the transmission and manually engage it forward and reverse. You can feel the definite detents as the arm is moved through forward/neutral/reverse. If it still won't engage when manually put into reverse, might try a fluid flush/change. Otherwise, sounds like rebuild time...

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I will defintley try changing the fluid, and cleaing the screen first. But how common is it for just the reverse to go out and not the foward? I rarley use reverse, its gota be a clogged reverse circut or something?

mike is right, check the linkage... your best bet. removing the transmission is not that tough once you establish a way to rig the back end of the engine. (rear motor mounts are on the transmission).

So I will chekc the linkage and flush the fluid. Any other ideas? I feel like it would be very strange for the reverse to go out, but have no issues with forward. It has to be a clogged reverse circut.

hope it is just a cable adjustment. but it is probably the reverse clutch disk broken. when they go it takes out the pressure springs you will then have forward but no reverse. when
they brake you will not hear any noise or know anything happen.

Thread: How to rebuild a velvet drive 10-17-004 1:1 in service & repair look at pic #18 you will see what i am talking about

The whole trans works off pressure , if there is not enough fluid press you will not engage the pressure plate to make friction plates grab ..

on my rebuild i hit something that caused the reverse not to work (broken friction plate / pressure plate springs) i made a "how to" on this
forum with detail photos ... and don't think this a hard job .. cause it totally is not ... look at me thread and if you have anymore issues PM me and ill give you my cell #

Quote:

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Originally Posted by lively

The whole trans works off pressure , if there is not enough fluid press you will not engage the pressure plate to make friction plates grab ..

on my rebuild i hit something that caused the reverse not to work (broken friction plate / pressure plate springs) i made a "how to" on this
forum with detail photos ... and don't think this a hard job .. cause it totally is not ... look at me thread and if you have anymore issues PM me and ill give you my cell #

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Lively, Yeah I read your very through thread on your transmission rebuild when it came out a few months back. I am fearing that you are probably right, but will still give flushing the trans and cleaning the screen a try first. Heck, how much does 2 quarts for tranny fluid cost anyway. Were you able to find a rebuild manual for this?

one last tid bit, the last time I took the boat out and noticed this issue, I accidentlaly started teh engine and reved it in neutral to a fairly high rpm, almost 4200. I wonder if this is just a blown seal in the revese circut?

Well, I pulled the shift linkage off last night and you can clearly see the transmission wants to engage but is slipping in reverse. I bet it is a blown seal because there is plenty of clean fluid in there. Regardless, I winterized the motor and am going to pull the transmission out next week for an overhaul. I found a very good pdf for the 71c overhaul manual.

http://www.engine-cemberci.com/engin.../VELVET/12.pdf