T10 Stuck in Reverse

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   I just inherited a 66 Ambassador Convertible from my late father.  Its a great car, however I'm having shifting issues.  It has the t-10 4 speed with the floor shifter.  
After I use reverse, sometimes it gets caught between gears?  After using reverse and then trying to put it in any forward gears, it seems like the transmission is "locked" between forward and reverse and although the shifter is engaged, It will not move forward or reverse and stalls the engine when you let the clutch out.  

When my dad owned the car, several mechanics blamed the shifter(after they had "rebuilt" the transmission).  The vehicle only has 66K and the shifter seems to operate correctly.  I've used the fatory adjustment procedure and didn't work.  One said it needs a new pin? and the other said whe sould but a mustang shifter in it, not!  

By the way, we sent the shifter to both Hurst and and BW and they both said it wasn't their shifter?  

A couple of questions? 

First does anyone know a fix or have experienced the same problem?

Anyone know who made this shifter?

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66AMBASSADOR Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List AMC Fan Joined: Apr/20/2014 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 2	Post Options Post Reply Quote 66AMBASSADOR Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: T10 Stuck in Reverse Posted: Apr/20/2014 at 10:27am
	I just inherited a 66 Ambassador Convertible from my late father. Its a great car, however I'm having shifting issues. It has the t-10 4 speed with the floor shifter. After I use reverse, sometimes it gets caught between gears? After using reverse and then trying to put it in any forward gears, it seems like the transmission is "locked" between forward and reverse and although the shifter is engaged, It will not move forward or reverse and stalls the engine when you let the clutch out. When my dad owned the car, several mechanics blamed the shifter(after they had "rebuilt" the transmission). The vehicle only has 66K and the shifter seems to operate correctly. I've used the fatory adjustment procedure and didn't work. One said it needs a new pin? and the other said whe sould but a mustang shifter in it, not! By the way, we sent the shifter to both Hurst and and BW and they both said it wasn't their shifter? A couple of questions? First does anyone know a fix or have experienced the same problem? Anyone know who made this shifter?

FSJunkie Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List AMC Addicted Joined: Jan/09/2011 Location: Flagstaff, AZ Status: Offline Points: 4742	Post Options Post Reply Quote FSJunkie Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Apr/20/2014 at 10:36am
	Mine did that when the shift linkage was out of adjustment. There are adjustments on the 1-2, 3-4, and R shift levers on the side of the gearbox. Odds are it's not fully disengaging R when you move the lever to a forward gear, so locked in two gears at once.
	1955 Packard 1966 Marlin 1972 Wagoneer 1973 Ambassador 1977 Hornet 1982 Concord D/L 1984 Eagle Limited

Have2SC's Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List AMC Addicted Joined: Nov/30/2011 Location: Norwalk, OH Status: Offline Points: 1257	Post Options Post Reply Quote Have2SC's Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Apr/20/2014 at 10:40am
	had the same problem with my 68 AMX, and no it is not a hurst shifter! my brother and i pulled it apart and cleaned/lubed everything and drove it and it was fine, until i put it away for the winter and it would get sticky again. lubrication is the key. Lee
	1971 SC360 Hornet 4 speed 1970 Javelin 390 4 speed "Base Model" 1967 Rambler 220 X code 343 4 speed

401jim Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Supporter of TheAMCForum Joined: Jan/07/2012 Location: Brunswick,Ohio Status: Offline Points: 793	Post Options Post Reply Quote 401jim Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Apr/20/2014 at 10:48am
	X 2 with Lee. Lube is most important. Also if it is a Hurst you must adjust linkage rods with a 1/4 inch rod in side of shifter to keep in neutral during adjustments.Its a PIA in the car but totally necessary.....


mstrcrftr Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Supporter of TheAMCForum Joined: Jul/12/2010 Location: houston Status: Offline Points: 2066	Post Options Post Reply Quote mstrcrftr Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Apr/20/2014 at 11:02am
	back in the late 70's i made a shifter that had two levers, one for forward and one for reverse. i could lock the two levers together and the car would not move. this is most likely your problem as one of the levers on your shifter is not correctly aligned as FSJunkie said.

AMXFSTBK390 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List AMC Addicted Joined: Oct/22/2013 Location: SF Bay Area Status: Offline Points: 3489	Post Options Post Reply Quote AMXFSTBK390 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Apr/20/2014 at 5:03pm
	Good suggestion about cleaning and lubricating. If that doesn't fix it, you may have rods that are binding because of wear or the levers have worn holes where the rods connect, or both!
	Questions are powerful tools...what's in your toolbox?

mmaher94087 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List AMC Addicted Joined: Apr/01/2008 Location: Arizona Status: Offline Points: 1690	Post Options Post Reply Quote mmaher94087 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Apr/20/2014 at 7:05pm
	Or the plastic shift lever bushings have gone south and there is just too much slop in the linkage to be adjusted out.
	Mike

whizkidder Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Supporter of TheAMCForum Joined: Mar/03/2008 Location: North Georgia Status: Offline Points: 2972	Post Options Post Reply Quote whizkidder Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Apr/20/2014 at 8:41pm
	I had a bolt back out of the mounting adapter plate for the shifter to tranny -- locked the linkage in reverse until I fished the bolt out.
	Ron Frost marne1ancient @ gmail.com 910 nine two two 0563 "There is no limit to what a man can do, so long as he does not care a straw who gets credit for it. Charles Montague

rocklandrambler Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List AMC Addicted Joined: Feb/09/2013 Location: Nanuet, NY Status: Offline Points: 3953	Post Options Post Reply Quote rocklandrambler Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Apr/21/2014 at 1:58am
	Didn't a company named Inland make the shifters? I don't know why that name sticks in my mind.
	Past AMC's 1974 Hornet X (new) 1975 Gremlin X (new) 1964 Classic 660 Cross Country 1965 American 440-H

401MATCOUPE Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List AMC Addicted Joined: May/20/2010 Location: Salisbury, MD Status: Offline Points: 5367	Post Options Post Reply Quote 401MATCOUPE Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Apr/21/2014 at 3:26am
	The early 1966 to 1969 1/2 shifter is a Ford base shifter....the handle looks very Mustang with the T reverse lock out, that was changed to a ring in 1968. These old shifters were known to be reliable, just not very precision and in Mid 1969 Changed to a Hurst Competition Plus...shecific to AMC again. There are many adjustments on the "early" T-10 shifter.....I agree with many other folks sounds like the reverse linkage is either to sloppy or just not adjusted corrected. Either way it probably has to due with old Lube and adjustments....the plastic and rubber Handle Bushings are all available from American Parts Depot. If you find some part that is broken or worn out, I have alot of great used parts for these and can probably help. Don't give up a 1966 AMbo with T-10 is Uber rare and very desirable......fix what is there. Anyway that I can help, just PM me...where are you located?
	Ross K. Peterson 68X,GoPac,343,AT,52A(1stCar) 68X,GoPac,390,4sp,52A 69X,GoPac,390,4sp,64A 70X,GoPac,390,4sp,87A,8 70X,GoPac,390,4sp,BBO,8 70 Jav SST,390,AT,BSO 74MatX,401,AT,Prototype 74MatX,401,AT