Triumph Repair: 73 Spit 1500 Shifting Issues, haynes manual, shift linkage

Question
QUESTION: Hello Allexperts!
So, my 4 speed tranny was recently rebuilt. After the rebuild (3 months, less than 500 miles), the tranny didn't want to stay in 3rd gear upon decel - it would pop into neutral. I was actually dreading pulling it out and willing to live with the inconvenience. Today, something happened with the shifter and it appears to be very sloppy. I no longer have to push down to shift into reverse and the shifter seems to have lost whatever helps guide it into shifting in the 'H' pattern, it just seems really sloppy and often doesn't quite go into gear unless you really mechanically force it.

Any ideas are greatly appreciated,
Mark

ANSWER: Hi Mark,

You may have just a problem in the shift tower but you will have to remove the tunnel to get to it.

This may or may not have anything to do with it jumping out of gear but you need to correct it first to see if it still jumps out of gear. Note if the shift lever comes close to the tunnel that may knock it out of gear due to engine and trans movement.

Howard

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hello Howard:
Thanks for your quick reply. I already had quick access to the tunnel. I removed it and compared what I was seeing with the shifting mechanism, as it compared to the Haynes manual. Interestingly enough - the bushing that would compress the springs at the base of the shift lever - was completely missing. I have to assume that this plastic bushing had been there, cracked and fell off. I will replace this, but do you think as this was deteriorating, it could have been causing me popping out of 3rd gear on deceleration? Also, should I just buy the $6.00 bushing our the kit which includes springs, bushing etc. for $45.00?

Any comments are appreciated.
Mark

Answer
Hi Mark,

Those parts have no function to hold it in any gear but could make it where you would not fully engage a gear and then it could pop out. You will not know until you correct the shift linkage. I always only purchase the broken parts if I can. The only way I purchase a group of parts is when the piece I need is not available by itself.

Howard