Well, for those few who have ever had the problem of not being able to get into reverse... I have the solution!!! FINALLY!

Inside the tranny, there is a 5th/reverse shift fork. This fork moves down when you shift into 5th and up when you shift into reverse. The tranny casing has holes that the shift forks move into and out of that keep them stable, in place and on track when you're shifting. Well, if these holes in the casing get deformed, then the shift fork cannot move into the corresponding hole.

In my situation, I could not get the tranny inro reverse... it physically would not move into that gear. The hole in the casing that housees the 5th/reverse fork is on the outside edge of the tranny casing... and it kind-of sticks out of the casing (if I can find a picture I will post it). This hole can get deformed if you drop the tranny or hit it hard enough on this edge. Turns out that for me, UPS probably dropped the tranny on the way to me. It hit the very spot where this 5th/reverse hole resides inside the casing and deformed it.

To fit it, I used a dremel... ground a stone bit down on the sidewalk to the appropriate size to fit in the hole, and honed the inside of this hole. Before the fix, I could feel a lip inside the hole. I honed it until I could put the shift fork in the hole all the way down. Then, I used one of those soft buffing bits to smooth it out, and put it back together.


[Modified by servion, 12:22 PM 2/6/2003]

 

well done

 

wow.
dude you get mad props from me
thats amazing work.

 

Bump... anyone with this problem read this

 

pictures would be realy nice...

 

Servion..
This is the exact problem I have right now in my 95 Acura Integra LS 5spd......I got the car like this a few months ago...Traded an 88 CRX Si even for this car..and I only paid $700 for that............I went today and started to remove the tranny out of the car but stopped because I broke one of my socket wrenches..I was going to just drop the tranny and take it some where to get fixed this week but it seems like you fixed the exact same problem my car is having now...........All gears shift fine but it will not go in reverse at all.........I think the car was in an accident before and might have caused this problem...............Any more details on how exactly you fixed this would be freegn dopely appreciated man..........If you got pictures email them to me or post them...... email is randygreen@***.net I've only got until next weekend to fix this car before I start my new job which is 40min away........thanks man..

 

Well, I can describe in more detail.... but since I fixed mine, itis on my car. I can take pictures of my other tranny housing and point it out.... but I should be able to explain it.

1) take off the transmission
2) Pull the tranny housing (there's bunch of 12mm bolts... the helms manual describes the orde and all the little details).
3) Orient the casing so that you are looking inside of it. Orient the deep part up (where both shafts reside... main and counter), so that the hole where the axle slips into the diff. is downwards.
4) Look into the depths of the casing... and you will see 3 holes going downward. These holes are where the shift forks are stabilized. (You can see the 3 shift forks on the other side ofyour tranny). These 3 holes are getting further into the casing... 1st/2nd is the closest, 3rd/4th is in the middle and 5th/reverse is the furthest one up (if you're oriented the casing as I've described). It it the hole furthest into the tranny casing.
5) if your problem the same as mine, then if you can get a finger in there, I bet you can feel a burr/something not straight or smooth. Grind a dremel stone down on the concrete until it will barely fit into the hole.
6) use the dremel bit to smooth out and straighten the hole.
7) Use one of the soft buffing bits to smooth out your work.
8) reassamble and enjoy having a reverse gear.