Aloha All,

I need some input on a problem I am having getting my 1964 1800 to go into reverse. All forward gears are working fine...though it has become harder to find First gear since the reverse issue happened. First is waaay over to the left and reverse simply is not there at all.

Here's what I have checked and done in an attempt to fix this...none of it has helped.

First I flushed out the old hydraulic lines and master and slave cylinders.

Then I tried adjusting the threaded rod that move the clutch fork.

Then, since the car had come with a new master / slave cylinders and a new hose - I replaced all these and filled/bled system.

Arrgh, none of this has me going backwards!

Of course now we reach the tough part..where either I do some major stuff (like pull the tranny and look inside), or I just continue to look for some small thing that has caused all this.

First thing I will try later today is further optimizing the adjustment of the clutch pedal and slave pushrod...make sure everything is 100% as good as it can be. Bet that won't fix it though...

I have not yet topped off the gearbox oil...so I guess this could be it, but the OD does work (I think), so someone said that if the OD engages then you should have enough gear oil.

I looked at my Hayes manual and on page 101 I see a part that I don't have on my gear shift...the "reverse catch" which is listed as part 26 and appears to be a ring of plastic or something that sits at the base of the gearshift. Can someone please check their car and see what it looks like? Is there some kind of plastic donut at the bottom that I am missing? This might be the problem if I'm actually missing a piece.

Here are the other theories I have been offered and which seem plausible...

- clutch is worn enough to affect reverse but not forward gears (Cameron at IPD did not buy this though). Car does not slip out of gear or shudder at all in forward gears. Gears engage and disengage fine.

- OD has a pawl that can lock/jam and cause one to lose reverse (and of course I have accidentally left the OD on at least once when in reverse..but this problem did not occur until months later).

- the selection lever that selects reverse is jammed somehow and won't engage the reverse pinion

- or similarly, that some small thing is wrong in the ball/gearshifter that is keeping it from selecting rev.

Unfortunately for me, I live on Kauai (which is great except at times when your old Volvo breaks and not a single shop on the island has the least interest in working on it...), so basically i need to diagnose this on my own and then if something major needs doing, try and find a mechanic to help.

At this point it seems like there's no "one" answer, but I sure appreciate any advice you guys can offer.

Cheers - John