i lost reverse today in my 71 duster auto... as i pulled out of a parking spot with my steering wheel cut hard right, i heard a loud clunk and all of the sudden lost reverse. it drives fine and normal in drive, but it will not engage into reverse. all of the linkage is intact and working ok. the fluid level is right on, not dark/smelly. no shavings either. any ideas on how i can prpoerly diagnose this so im not just throwing a whole tranny rebuild at it? budgets way over on this project and i cant afford to rebuild the trans. right now...

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"I don't like these seatbelts, they're too complicated." - my lovely girlfriend in reference to my 71 duster seatbelts

10 - 1 it's a broken band.

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David Kight
'62 Valiant Signet, White
'98 Dodge Dakota
'06 Jeep Liberty

Growing older is unavoidable but growing up is strictly optional.

Yep, probably a broken low/reverse band. Another test: Put the shifter in "1" and accelerate to about 15 or 20 mph, then get off the gas. You'll probably find the car does not slow way down due to engine braking, as it should. That band is the low/reverse band. It is usually not changed except as part of a trans overhaul, as there's a great deal of disassembly required to get at it!

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

thank you very much sirs for the quick response... not exactly what i wanted to hear, but i guess it's to be expected with the way my luck goes...

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"I don't like these seatbelts, they're too complicated." - my lovely girlfriend in reference to my 71 duster seatbelts

Most likely a broken band, but it is possible the strut link fell out. I would drop the pan and take a look, before pulling the trans. The strut can be reinstalled in the car.

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Charrlie_S
65 Valiant 100 2dr post 170 turbo
66 Valiant Signet 170 nitrous
64 Valiant Signet
64 Valiant 4dr 170
64 Valiant 4dr 225

Once upon a time.... there was a special "flex band" offered that allowed you to do a band repair without pulling the trans.
This band was flexable enough to slip around the drum and one of the ends had to be rivited on after it was in place. I found that the biggest part of the job was getting the old "solid shell" band removed, I had to cut it into 4 pieces to get it out.
DD

thanks for the replies, but a friend of mine has a trans i can use so i guess this wont cost too much... i dont have a ton of time to replace the trans and id like to drive the duster as it is with no reverse for a bit. can i expect that the other bands will break soon or is it possible that the trans will work good enough as is for awhile?

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"I don't like these seatbelts, they're too complicated." - my lovely girlfriend in reference to my 71 duster seatbelts

The trans will work "forever" without reverse.
It would be a good idea to drop the trans pan and remove the broken or "dislogged" parts.
You may find that you have a real simple fix, a loose band adjustment screw and the band strut laying in the bottom of the pan.
Fixing that is way faster then swapping a transmission...
Get out there and Drop The Pan!
DD