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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - MG Midget 1500 Reverse Gear

I have recently completed a refurbished my MG midget 1500. I am now finding it impossible to select the reverse gear. Selection of all 4 forward gears is not a problem and the car moves forward on each occation.I do realise you have to lift the gear lever as you move it from neutral from left to right and then up ( forwards) but on each occation it find 3rd gear.Has anyone any ideas as to how I can solve the problem without having to take the gearbox and engine out of the car?
Howard Emberson

A couple of questions...

Have you done anything to the gearbox?

Were you able to select reverse prior to whatever it is you've done to the car?
Dave O'Neill2

Hi Dave,

Short of cleaning up the gearbox and painting before refitting to the engine,then no. A new clutch has been fitted but thats about it. The car was last driven 3.5 years ago and the reverse gear was fine at the time. Howard
Howard Emberson

Howard, when you move the gear shift over to reverse positon - does it actually allow you to make the full movement.. If not it couldbe the reverse lift plate may have come loose - I think this only allows you to lift the stick when you are in the correct positon - its its loose it might perhaps be limiting the motion. It is secured just under the gearstick on the extension housing on the drivers side..

failing that its most likely something come loose in the selector shaft or selector fork assemblies - which means a strip down unfortunately..

Most likely since from what you wrote I assume you haven't had it apart - its something up with the change /gear stick - I would take it apart and have a careful look make sure its back correctly ...

Good luck
John Barber

John,thank you for your helpful comments.Certainly when I go to move the gear stick to the reverve position,I lift the gear lever up initialy from the neutral position and then attempt to move the lever to the right and then up (forwards).It is during this forwards movement that I meet resistance and end up in the 3rd gear position.

I am looking at the Haynes workshop manual page 140 which shows the the exploded view of the 1500 gearbox.I cannot see any reference to the reverse lift plate? Are you talking about the gear lever yoke that connects the lower gearchange lever to the gear selector shaft?

I will investigate and let you know what I find.

kind regards Howard
Howard Emberson

John, Have now found the reverse lift plate to which you have refered in the Hanyes manual, but it appears to be missing from the car!!!.

There are two nuts on the left hand side of the rear extention. The top one is brass and is the reversing switch.The other lower one is a steel bolt and washer.This bolt does not seem to be holding anything in place but should I beleive hold the reverse lift plate. Assuming I can get hold of a plate is it possible to fit this without removing the gearbox. Incidentally this steel bolt is not very long and doesn't protrude into the inside of the rear housing.I am assumming the plate is held in place by this or a longer steel bolt and nut on the inside of the rear housing?

I have also noticed that the brass reversing switch does protrude some distance into the rear extention. Is it possible that this may be preventing the gear stick from moving suffitently to one side to engage the reversing gear.Maybe a coulpe of washers on the outside of the switch would overcome this?

regards Howard
Howard Emberson

Hi Howard, I don't know what to suggest about the reverse lift plate - I thought it was to prevent incorrect selection of reverse. If its not there at all it shouldn't inhibit selection of reverse. The light switch is wortha check - did you remove it and insert it too far back in maybe..?

Failing that I would double check the stick is in the correct orientation in the seat and ball cup .. If that doesn't fix it - unfortnutely it maybe somthing gone awry with the reverse shift mechanism - its basically a bronze bellcrank which pushes the reverse gear into mesh with the mainshft and layshaft.. You have the picture in Haynes - I would just check the reverse operating lever pin ( 18 in Hayne pic) is secure and that the reverse shaft securin bolt is secure ( 38 in haynes pic). This is about all you can do externally ...

I have mine in bits in the bench about to re-assemble as soon as the bits arrive...
Let me know if I can help with pictures/etc

Good luck hope you find its the linkage stick - end !
John Barber

Did you get it working Howard ? be interested to know what was wrong ...
John Barber

This thread was discussed between 01/01/2012 and 15/01/2012

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