can't get reverse + 1st!!

[carl666]

I am slowly getting my camper ready for the season's camping trips,but keep coming across little things that worry me.
1, I can select each gear with no problem at all except for reverse....It may go in first time or take anything upto 10-20 goes before it selects, if it doesn't go in it either goes forward or just grinds.
2, My gear knob says I have a 5 speed box with reverse,second and forth at the top and first,third and fifth at the bottom(oposite to a normal box).
Now being a total novice when it comes to T25's I don't know if this is the case,I can't get first(if it is down)and have to start off in second(usual possition for 1st in a normal car) but this seems a little flat as I have to slip the clutch,on any incline,to stop the van from stalling(feels like starting off in second).
Am I going mad or have I got an issue with my selector stopping me from getting 1st and giving me loads of trouble getting reverse???
I know you guy's and galls will be able to help so thanks in advance....
Carl.

[EarthWormJim]

Are you pushing down on the gear stick when trying to select reverse. Im not taking the mick its just you said your a novice.

[Cate]

Mine's a 5 speed too, i usually pull away in second and it manages very well unless its an incline.

It could be your gear linkages need a bit of tlc, eg cleaning up and regreasing, try that first before you start worrying about the g'box.

[carl666]

So first is down??? and yes although I said I was a novice it's only t25's I am not too sure about.Gear leaver pushes down but won't seem to select reverse all the time,is cleaning up the linkage a big job??

[Louey]

4 speed

1st top left(push left and up)
2nd bottom left (push backwards and down)
3rd top right (push forward)
4th bottom right (push backwards)

reverse - top left after pushing down

all pushes are from neutral

R13
24

5 speed

reverse is the same

1st is below reverse
2nd is top left
3rd is bottom left
4th is top right
5th is bottom right

R24
135

[Cate]

Cleaning up the linkages is not a big job unless you want it to be, depends how far you go into it.

Put the van up on ramps if you can, makes life so much easier, get under there and have a good rummage about, you can see the universal joint about 1/3 the way along the van to the back, further back the linkage bar goes through a couple of boots attached to the gear box, this can also be cleaned out and packed with grease, you can if you like drop this off the gearbox without messing up your selection.
This will reveal a ball & socket / cup & onion joint just before it all disappears into the gearbox, this cup can get full of crud, clean it all out and repack with lots of lovely thick grease.
Up the front of the van there is a box just at the bottom of the gearstick, you will have to drop your spare wheel out, this box can get full of nasty grit and muck too, clean that out and splurge with grease.

You can get a lot heavier than this, taking the whole thing apart, if you do you will need patience to reset where the splines are, unless you have marked them very well!

I did mine yesterday and its surprising just how much smoother the gears are.
If I can find them I'll put up a couple of pics, are you on msn? photos are quicker on there.

[Cate]

the universal joint, see how mucky and jammed up it can get!


next, the cup, regreased ready to go back up, notice the knackered boot sitting behind it. If yours is like that get a new one. The bracket in the middle of the pic ataches onto the gearbox, the other two bolts there can be undone which will reveal a sort of ball that the linkage goes through, the boots there and the ball need cleaning up and regreasing.


next the onion, give it a good clean, the bolt holes below it are where the bracket bolts to the gearbox. Its fiddly but worthwhile.


Have fun, any probs just come back.

[carl666]

Cate your a little star,I will have a look tomorow.
Thanks for going to so much effort, it is appreciated.