stuck in reverse, Transmission is stuck in reverse Options

[PCH]

Hi Everyone!

I took my ‘71 1.7 to the car wash yesterday. When I picked it up, they told me it was stuck in reverse.
Sure enough, the gearbox is stuck in reverse. It seems like you can shift back and forth between 4 and 5, but in those positions the gearbox is just locked up; feeling like “park” in an automatic transmission. Shifting back and forth in neutral only left the gearbox in reverse.
On my initial search of the internet, I came across mentions of a car being shift ed between first and reverse while still moving and this could cause this. Also there was a mention of doing something with the reverse light pin to get it out of reverse.
Is there an emergency fix for this problem and what is the long term repair?
Thanks everyone,
Peter

[emerygt350]

So the car will not shift out of reverse but the stick moves freely? Is there a particular direction the stick moves freely in?

This could be as simple as one of the cone screws coming loose but I can't tell from your description. I assume this is a tail shift?

[PCH]

'emerygt350': thank you for your reply.

Yes, it is a tail shifter.

Th stick moves freely from right to left in the neutral position. And it moves freely in front wards and backwards it what appears to be the 4th and 5th gear positions.