QuestionQUESTION: 1976 MGB VIN GH5NUG3975099 Canada
I've been working on this MGB for the last week. It's been sitting for the last, probably 5 years or more. It took almost half the week to get it running, then the last couple of days rebuilding the Clutch Master and slave and running new lines. Now that it runs and the clutch works, it shifts into all 4 forward gears no problem, but there doesn't seem to be a reverse gear. Normally you pullover to the far left then back for reverse, but there is no far left to pull to with this stick, it just stays in the 1st and second line, any clues?
ANSWER: Hi John. You are correct - reverse is left and back. If it won't go to the left, then possibly the detent spring has seized in its bore. That may require a strip-down to fix.
Before you do that there are two things I would check out:
1) Have you ever removed the plate on top of the gear lever? If so, it may have been put back on the wrong way round. The big hole is D-shaped and could be blocking the lever from going into reverse. I thought the 3 holes were staggered to prevent this. The 3 hold-down bolts have special double spring washers underneath them, so remove with caution.
2) If the plate is fitted the correct way round, use some strength and just keep pushing the gear lever to the left and back to the neutral position. Do not do this with the engine running. My guess is, you will break through the corrosion and get it working again.
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QUESTION: I removed everything like you said. I noticed that there doesn't seem to be a bushing in the remote control shaft that the shifter fits in. But even then using a prybar on the remote shaft, I can't get it to move over. Is there any way to access the detent bolt, without removing the tranny? I've got to replace the floors any ways so if I new where it was I could cut an access hole. You wouldn't happen to have the dimensions of the control shaft bushing, so I can make a new one?
Thanx for your help!
AnswerHi John. I do not think it is an internal gearbox fault. I think the problem is inside the remote control unit.
The shifter shaft runs directly in the alloy casing with no bushing. If the shifter goes into 1, 2, 3 & 4th gears then there is no problem with the bushing.
It could be the pin that operates the reversing light switch has seized in its bore. You could try removing the switch and pressing the pin inwards with a short screwdriver while someone else pushes the gear lever sideways from inside the car. Try to get it moving back and forth, it might clear the corrosion and start working again. Maybe spray some WD40 into the hole as well.
This exploded diagram might help:
http://www.mossmotors.com/Shop/ViewProducts.aspx?PlateIndexID=29014
The entire remote control unit is held to the top of the gearbox by about 5 bolts. If it is still seized solid, then you will have to remove the engine, gearbox and overdrive as one unit, then remove the remote control and fix it. There is a better diagram on page 41 of the Moss Motors catalogue. These are issued free by Moss Motors, so you would be well advised to get a copy.
