T15 jumping out of reverse

I have to hold the shifter when backing up. Tranny jumps out when moving in reverse. Problem is not related to clearance to shift boot or floorpan. It's definitely the tranny. How big of a repair are we talking about? I can live with it as-is unless it's something that will eventually affect fwd gears if not fixed.

Thanks,
Chilly

 

You could try taking the shift top apart and hope for a broken detent spring.

If not, then it's likely something internal to the trans. I'd start by looking at teh bushing inside reverse gear (I assume there is one), then I'd look at the little teeth on the gear that engage the shift collar. Unlikely the gear teeth are worn enough to push the gears apart.

 

Where are you? I'm pulling my T15 to put in a 435 in a few weeks...works great with only `60k miles on it if yours is on its way out.

 

My shifter gives no sensation of detents, as in popping into a shift position. Maybe I'll start there. While I have the top cover off I can give the reverse gear a wiggle to see if the bushing is letting the gear wobble on the shaft?

 

I'm in W. PA. Maybe a bit far from VA.

 

Sounds like a good plan. The gear and shift collar will push apart if there is any skew wrt the axis of the main shaft.

BTW a B-W 3-speed can be shipped pretty easily. Drain it well, take the shift top off, and it will fit in a heavy box or plastic cooler. Herm ships them across the country all the time. Greyhound is a cheap option, or Forward Air portal-to-portal.

 

I have the same problem (T-15 also) but it doesnt do it everytime, just sometimes and rarely. Almost everytime I havent used the reverse in a while, I put it in reverse gear and it pops out as soon as I start to relase the clutch; Then I put it back to reverse and no problem. Could it be the same problem as Chilly??

 

Bent shift fork will cause the same problem.
Mine was bent shift fork and shaft bearings on the way out...
I suspect the bad shaft bearings caused me to slam the shifter and bent the fork, but that is speculation...

If it's a detent problem, you will be able to hold it in reverse (or any other gear) with one finger without it popping out.
Reverse just happens to have gears turning in a direction that likes to throw the shifter out of gear...

If it's a shift fork problem, there will be a pretty noticeable 'Pop' when it comes out of gear since it's not just sliding out of gear, but being ejected forcefully since things aren't lined up when you apply power.

If it's shaft bearings letting the shaft move around, it will normally happen only under power, and that means a pretty good BANG! when it comes out.
You put it in reverse and as soon as the clutch is released, the thing slides out of gear like it was never in gear, just spits the shifter into neutral.
Mimics a detent problem pretty well, just does it under power instead of letting it fall out of reverse any old time...

I'd say if you have no noticeable detent, you probably have a combination of detent not working and a little bearing wear...
Spits the shifter out, but doesn't give you fits when you try and put it back in gear like a bent shift fork does...
Just remember!
When it spits out of reverse, and you put the clutch back in,
WAIT FOR THE GEAR SHAFT TO QUIT SPINNING BEFORE YOU TRY AND PUT IT BACK IN GEAR,
Or you will grid the engagement edges off the transmission teeth!

Only takes a couple of seconds for that gear set to stop spinning, so don't jam it three or four times in those couple of seconds like I did or you get to buy a BUNCH of gears instead of bearings, seals and springs!