Undepressable gear lever

[CovKid]

Will strip at weekend but my gear lever refuses to be pushed down to engage reverse. I can get reverse ok, but the lever is rock solid - no up and down movement. Goes through the gate ok-ish but its lost its encouraging springy feel. Ideas?

[The Bishop]

Removing the gear stick is just a matter of undoing two bolts at the bottom of the gear stick. I wonder if they are loose and the plate has moved or the spring has somehow slipped under the plate causeing it to lock down? it might be a 5 minute job. Lift the carpet, undo those two bolts and lift the gear stick out and put it all back together with some grease.

[NicBeeee]

Its been a while since I refurbished mine, if I remember (but dont quote me) If the grub screw has come loose from the bush at the top of the stick then in turn there is a lip on the gear lever that the lower ball half sits on, if the two shells around the lower ball half have some how pushed over the lip due to the gear lever being pushed too far down then the gear lever could be jammed down, this would mean you could still be able to get reverse but no up or down. But then I might be wrong.

[Plasticman]

wont speculate but when and if you remove the box under it, why not remove the bracket the you have to push down and under, I take mine off, still have to push firmly left and fwd to engage rev , feels right this way.
and when you come out of ist its a natural spring back to the gate and then fwd to 2nd , never had a prob with it
mm

[CovKid]

All great answers chaps. Many thanks. Whole thing probably needs an overhaul and kit but on Sat morning I'll dig in there and see whats 'gorn. The fact I can still get all the gears is a whole lot better than finding myself hunting for another 5-speed box.

Will take a few pics!

Just glad I didn't call this thread "Me stick has gorn stiff"

[CovKid]

NicBeee has it - more or less. Whats happened is that the gear stick has partially sunk into the plastic ball (spring too), effectively lowering the stick so it is now underneath the reverse bracket. Its kind of turned it into a quickshift which makes for slicker gear changes, however, I run the risk of going into reverse accidentally now I suppose, plus the stick may just go down further still.

Odd one that. I can get around for now anyway. I could add a washer perhaps but I'm rather enjoying the reduced throw. What I'm wondering is whats holding it together now? I'm sure not going to pull it up in case I'm left with a pile of broken plastic and no gear selection.