1930 Buick 60 Series Transmission Issue

[Erndog]

I have gotten myself into a bit of a "jam" with my transmission.

 

Given:

The "car" is in chassis mode right now on jack stands.

Engine is probably runable, but doesn't yet.

 

Scenario:

I decided it was time to change the gear oil in my transmission, which hasn't seen a road in close to 50 years. When I removed the drain plug, about 1/2 gallon of water came out, followed by a bit of oil. I pulled off the top and found it to be as expected, but no rust. I cleaned it out and refilled it with gear oil. I then rotated the rear wheels to move some gear oil around. I moved the low/reverse sliding gear to different positions and repeated several times. With the low/reverse sliding gear disengaged, I moved the high/intermediate sliding gear and did the same. I then hand cranked the engine to circulate gear oil around the counter-shaft gears and clutch gear. This all went rather well.

However, I then decided it would be good to engage the reverse gear and repeat. Not really knowing what I was doing, I also slid the high/intermediate sliding gear back against the low/reverse sliding gear and over the low counter-shaft gear (not touching, I think).

 

Issue:

I now have the low/reverse sliding gear engaged with the reverse gear and the high/intermediate sliding gear against it. For some reason, I can not move the high/intermediate sliding gear back to its normal area. I have tried hand cranking the engine little bits in the hope that it will align something, and also tried bumping the rear wheel (one stationary) to no avail. As a matter of fact, I can't move the rear wheel because something is firmly locking up in the transmission.

 

Any advice?

 

 

[Roger Barrett]

It sounds like you have the transmission in two gears at once. With the clutch released you should be able to pry one and then both of the gears into neutral. Will your engine turn over if you hold the clutch released with a stick, or a helper? 

[DonMicheletti]

If the above does not work. You can knock it out of the 2 gears by using a brass or aluminum rod against the sliding  gear and hit the rod with a heavy hammer to knock out of one of the gears.

No chance of harming anything

[Erndog]

8 minutes ago, Roger Barrett said:

It sounds like you have the transmission in two gears at once. With the clutch released you should be able to pry one and then both of the gears into neutral. Will your engine turn over if you hold the clutch released with a stick, or a helper? 

I can turn the engine by hand. Not sure if I can release the clutch and keep it released, but I'll try that. I know the previous owner complained of the clutch sticking.

[Erndog]

Solved!

Disengaging the clutch made zero difference, most likely due to stuck clutch plates or something. However, I talked my wife into giving me a hand by prying between the two sliding gears while I rotated the engine by hand. Remarkably, it worked great!

Thanks for rapid responses and good info. It was right on the money.