Some of you may remember a couple of years ago when i had issues with a transmission that would not reverse. I had another one of those in a car i am currently working on. All forward gears works well but reverse does not kick in. On jack stands with rear wheels in the air there is a slight forward rotation. Now i had not set the timing and idle and did a "quick and dirty" by making the TV rod so long that it held the throttle slightly open to get the car not die in idle.Guess what, all of a sudden the car would reverse!!!!no hesitation strong pull backwards. For the people who understands the 1956 trannies better than I do: Is there any understandable logic to this? Like would the transmission get a higher oil pressure from not activating the TV valve having a the long TV rod ( Reversing is usually done at low revs...at least by me)
"Sounds like" the higher idle caused by the longer TV rod adjustment affected the transmission pressure and enabled reverse.
Don't think so, I have been trying reversing with different revs before the Rod adjustment and it did not work, Now i have an idle at 500 rpm and a long TV rod and it does reverse like a champ...
You would not have thought the rod would effect reverse unless its some sort of lockout feature?
The correct adjustment procedure would be found in the FSM. An invaluable tool. Just 1/4 turn on the adjustment can make the difference in a glass smooth shift, or one that gives you a mild case of whiplash.