Difficult at times to get in reverse on manual transmission

[airfireman1]

At times I have had great difficulty getting into reverse gear. I don't think its anything to do with the clutch as all other gears are fine, no grinding and shifts easy in the forward gears. Could it possibly be the linkage bushes? I have checked a couple of videos on adjustments and a few threads but before I buy the bushing kit I want to be sure it is nothing inside the gear box causing the problem. Has any one else experienced this and solved the issue?. There does appear to be a fair amount of slop in the linkage set up and the gear lever hits the side of the centre console when it is in reverse.

[DMCMW Dave]

At times I have had great difficulty getting into reverse gear. I don't think its anything to do with the clutch as all other gears are fine, no grinding and shifts easy in the forward gears. Could it possibly be the linkage bushes? I have checked a couple of videos on adjustments and a few threads but before I buy the bushing kit I want to be sure it is nothing inside the gear box causing the problem. Has any one else experienced this and solved the issue?. There does appear to be a fair amount of slop in the linkage set up and the gear lever hits the side of the centre console when it is in reverse.

Adjust the cable. Under the car at the trans (two lock nuts on the cable). Very delicate adjustment.

[airfireman1]

Thanks, I will try that as soon as I get back home next week

[JohnZ]

I was not able to get into 1st and 2nd gear once, I simply slipped under the car and adjusted the cable as Dave said and the problem was gone!

Just be careful not to push it too further or you'll lose 5th gear!

;)

[Bitsyncmaster]

I have trouble getting into reverse about 50% of the time. I can feel via the shifter it did not go into reverse so I just "double clutch" and then it slips into reverse. I installed new bushings and it made no difference. I think the reverse gear just does not mesh correctly.

[Jonathan]

Good visual here.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ng6-l2fhPXw

[David T]

I have trouble getting into reverse about 50% of the time. I can feel via the shifter it did not go into reverse so I just "double clutch" and then it slips into reverse. I installed new bushings and it made no difference. I think the reverse gear just does not mesh correctly.

Reverse doesn't have any syncros so if the clutch is not fully releasing, the car is moving, or the linkage adjustments are not good you can have trouble shifting into reverse. Other things to look for include:
Broken engine/transmission mounts
Worn rubber bushings in the shift linkage
If someone didn't know about the reverse gate and forced the gearshift into reverse things could be bent causing difficulty getting into reverse. The thing to do is to just do all of these external checks and make sure the shift linkage moves smoothly. You might have to clean and lubricate it to make it move easily. When things are all working properly you can get into reverse easily.