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MG MGA - transmission shifting after rebuild

My transmission has been rebuilt and is not installed. I am able to go thru gears 1 2 3 and 4 with no trouble, but reverse is difficult to get to. From neutral, it just doesn't seem to want to go to reverse, although I was able to get there once or twice (I'm doing this with the trans and me sitting on the garage floor).
Is this normal?

Thanks, George
G Goeppner

George, did you make the required vroom vroom sounds? Just kidding. Both 1st and reverse have no synchros. So trying to shift into reverse on the bench can be difficult. Try rotating the trans input shaft a bit while moving the shift lever. It should snap in with no problems. This is normal.
Chuck Schaefer

Chuck, thanks for your comments. I did try rotating the input shaft, perhaps that's when I was able to engage reverse. I wasn't making "vroom vroom" sounds, but I did say a few words at the time!
G Goeppner

Reverse has a spring loaded detent for lockout. You need to slap the shifter smartly to the left before pull back.
Barney Gaylord

Also make sure the top cover of the rear section is placed right per Barney's recommendation. See the following:

http://www.mgaguru.com/mgtech/gearbox/gt100.htm

Brian
ZBMan

This thread was discussed between 17/06/2013 and 20/06/2013

MG MGA index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG MGA BBS is active now.