Morris Minor Forum

I would remove all for the selector retaining bolts to ensure they still have the locating point one at a time, It's odd that just loosening the lock hut allows you to rotate the rod. Sometimes there are gaps but that does look a bit wide. With the selectors secure again, select each gear to determine the required length of the piece at the end of the gear lever. Also determine the narrowest space for the width of the tip. It can be wider the space in the fork since there are some gaps. The wear in the external pieces will allow excessive rotation of the gear lever around its vertical axis. Of course, refurbishing or replacement is best. It's unlikely that the 1st/2nd selector rod is twisted, so until you decide to pull the gear box apart, building up the end of the gear lever is a workable solution and should not be causing any harm. After some further thinking allowing the gear lever to rotate due to the worn locating bits allows the tip to be at an angle making it easier to "escape" when the shift fork is move fore or aft. This feature at the end of the gear lever on the remote style shifter has a very controlled straight fore and aft movement and maybe the reason they went to the remote shifter and that benefited the up and coming Sprite introduction.

Thanks Jim
For the reply, Had a bit of time today working on the selectors. And all the selectors removed the bolts and refitted them and checked for play in the rods. Still came back to the same gap, Maybe a little less. I have now come to the conclusion that the seat piece on the base of the gear shift is causing me the problem. If I put it all together without the spring and top cap I get all gears without any dramas, The moment it goes all together with the spring and top cap. I get jammed gears and locking up in the box.
My thinking is that If I was to use a softer weight spring to hold the gear lever in place it won’t put as much pressure into the bottom seat piece, But it will still leave me a little weight to not allow it to go into reverse.
Until I can either source or make up a new bottom seat, Or get a spare to play with to get it right.
Regards
Richard

GDay all
Been a little bit of time since post on this.
I worked out a solution to the gear jamming, As the bottom cup are very rare,
I have put a spacer (5mm)between the bottom cup and the top cap that holds the spring down, And have all gears
and they are not jamming or miss shifting.
So onwards and upwards
Thanks all for your input,
Thought I might post my solution in case someone else has the same drama
Thanks Richard