Triumph Repair: GT6 shifter, shift lever, bushings

Question
I have a 1973 GT6 MK3 (non-overdrive trans.) I previously asked you about a shifter kit. I obtained one and was able to install it. It worked fine -for about a month. The same thing appeared to happen, the bushings just broke and fell out. This time I got another kit and gave it to my mechanic to install. The car now shifts rather hard and instead of pushing down and to the left for reverse, you must pull up and left for reverse. Which way should reverse be and what might be causing the difficulty in shifting? Shifting was not hard when I purchased the car or after I installed the first bushing kit.

Answer
Bill,

Which of the bushings broke?  The ones at the end of the shift lever?

The 3 rail trans (fitted to all GT6s, as far as I've ever heard) has reverse to the left and up, and you need to push down on the lever to get it to move over to the left.

The later Spitfire 1500s (post 1975) with single rail trans had reverse to the right and you lifted up on the shift lever to get it all the way to the right.

When you say "shifts hard" do you mean that it's hard to move the lever between gear positions?  Or that when you go into a gear gate there's resistence, or a "crunch"?

Let me know some more details and I'll see if I can sort this out.


Cheers,

Jim