MGB MGB Reverse Hard to engage

[glemon]

My B gearbox (1980) does not like to go into reverse, it is fine once I get there, the problem is not so much engaging the gear, but getting the lever far enough to the left to engage, I really have to slam it in, common problem? easy fix? (he asks, hopefully)

 

[JoshP]

Often, I find that I need to put the car into a forward gear before I can engage reverse. I usually go 1st, followed by reverse. Does reverse grind or make any noise when you put it in?

 

[glemon]

No, the problem is getting the lever far enough to the left to go into reverse instead of 2nd, once I get it over that far, by a very hard push, it goes in fine.

Greg

 

[aeronca65t]

I'm not sure if you are having a "new" problem, or this involves a car that's been sitting.

In my '69 I had similar problems, but my car had been sitting for 15 years.

I removed the sheet metal shifter cover and drizzled as much kerosene down into the shift linkage as I could while "working" the shifter gently back and forth. This took a fair amount of time, but it kept getting better and better. I was worried that it was a bent shift fork, but I figured I'd have to take the trans out anyway if that was true.

By the way, I tried to remove my shift lever by removing the ball ring and three retaining bolts (it's supposed to be "easy" to remove and looks just like the design of my Sprite which I've had out dozens of times). Anyway, I was never able to actually remove the shift lever (it was somehow "stuck" I guess). But the combo of gently "working" it and the kerosene got things to work fine. I'm sure a lot of the kerosene made it's way into the trans so I changed the trans oil when this was done.

G'luck.

 

[glemon]

As a matter of fact the car sat for many years, and I did I will try kerosene or a lubricant down the linkage, thanks, Greg