TR2/3/3A Difficult to engage Reverse

[bigjones]

This is a continuation of a thread about hard starting. Now that the hard starting has been resolved, I'm starting a new thread.
Does the gear change lever need to be lifted up in order to engage Reverse?

 

[bobhustead]

I just slap mine from neutral.
Bob

 

[Joel Lester]

Yes, mine you have to "lift" the lever to get her into reverse.
Joel

 

[bigjones]

Thank you Bob and Joel.
Bob, the slap, is that with an upward motion?

 

[CJD]

Yes...the gate must be lifted, then will move to the right. If you are able to "slap" it right, then the gate is worn.

 

[bobhustead]

I'm not conscious of anything more than a slap. But then I drove a pickup from new for 60 years that had a Muncie granny gear 4 speed that required a lift-to- reverse move. That tranny had a hefty spring to overcome and I learned early to slap it hard.
Bob

 

[PDIGIO_6x3]

This is a continuation of a thread about hard starting. Now that the hard starting has been resolved, I'm starting a new thread.
Does the gear change lever need to be lifted up in order to engage Reverse?

How old is your clutch slave cylinder? You may be getting bleed-by.

 

[bigjones]

PDIGIO,
The shop refurbished the brake/clutch master cylinder and clutch slave cylinder.
Good suggestion nevertheless.

 

[CJD]

My Muncie 4 on the floor came with a finger lift that had to be pulled to get it into reverse. I swapped the shifter for the "in" shifter of the day...Hurst. The hurst was a true "slap it to reverse". The Triumph will only slap into reverse if it is worn. At this point I would think every one you drive is worn to that point...except my TR2. I re-welded the worn area to bring it back to original specs. You can slap it all day, but it will not move over for reverse unless you lift it!

Post #25 in this thread shows what the wear looks like in the shift gate:

General Tech - TR2/3 Gearbox Rebuild

Now on to more inspections during a rebuild. Here are 3 3rd gears. At first glance they look about the same, but these are the areas you are looking for... Bad...missing teeth. Oil holes free and clear on both sides. Dog teeth. This gear has relatively rounded dog teeth, so I...

www.britishcarforum.com

 

[bobhustead]

My Muncie was a top shifter granny gear unit. Couldn't put an external shifter on it. Wierd when I tried to get the shifter top off. Simply wouldn't come up. Turned out the shifter needed to be between 1 & 2 (or maybe 3 and 4) to lift it off. I have no doubt my current gearbox shifter is worn as you opine. Don't remember for the TR3 I had in '67.
Bob
Bob

 

[Doug Sabbag]

I had the same problem.
I replaced the spring in the shifter and it works like butter now.
Smooth as silk.

 

[Doug Sabbag]

This is a continuation of a thread about hard starting. Now that the hard starting has been resolved, I'm starting a new thread.
Does the gear change lever need to be lifted up in order to engage Reverse?

I had a big discussion about this on TriumphExp.com and it turns out that many TRs need to be lifted and many don't. It's dependent on the bevelling of the gate, going into reverse.
Some TRs had that already beveled, some have been worn into that condition and some not yet.
Anyway, my TR had gotten so hard to lift, I was pulling the shift knob off of the splined post.
I replaced the spring in the mechanism, (requires removing the center support and then the rubber & vinyl(?) covers, then pushing and twisting the metal cover off), then the shifting was smooth as silk.

 

[bigjones]

Doug,
Many thanks for your post.
Could you please provide a link to the TriumphExp.com thread?
Cheers!
PS. Where did you get the replacement spring from (Moss Motors shows N/A)

 

[Doug Sabbag]

Doug,
Many thanks for your post.
Could you please provide a link to the TriumphExp.com thread?
Cheers!
PS. Where did you get the replacement spring from (Moss Motors shows N/A)

That is the 'link'. Note: .com at the end!

 

[Doug Sabbag]

That is the 'link'. Note: .com at the end!

Ohh, you can get parts from the Roadster-Factory.com or mossmotors.com or Rimmerbros.com or others..
Just Google: Triumph TR6 parts.

 

[CJD]

I bet your next thread will be about "how" to remove the shift lever to get to the spring, LOL. The grease turns to glue, making the cap holding the shifter extremely difficult to remove. If you can find a new cap for a reasonable price, I would consider having it ready when you dig into this, as the cap often gets damaged during removal...unless it has been removed recently.