Not engaging reverse gear

[RobHomewood]

Postscript to this thread
I found when I got the car out onto the road that I could not get freewheel to operate and also that she kept jumping out of top gear on overrun on top of reverse jumping out. The long of short of it is that I concluded that the 'new' long spring in the reverse shaft (previously missing) was too strong. So I undid the ferrule at the front end of the shaft which is outside the casing and removed the spring. This was supposedly an original spring from the spare gearbox. I then took one of the new anonymous springs I had found on line and cut it down to about an inch shorter than the original. The springs I bought were quite a close but not exact match apart from being 300mm long overall. Anyway when inserted the cut spring only projected about 3/4" from the shaft at the front and it was therefore easier to refit the ferrule becasue the spressure needed to compress the spring into the shaft was less. And hey presto when reassembled I now have yje freewheel operating, she does not jump out of top gear nor does reverse jump out either. Result! It sould make our run up to the Platinum Rally so much more relaxing. Fingers crossed for everything else

[luli]

congratulations!

[RobHomewood]

Alas I spoke too soon. Everything was working OK on Monday but by Thirsday when we set off for the Rally it had all gone pants again- no freewheel, jumping out of top gear and reverse ditto. So we travelled to Malvern like that. However after 3 runs up Shelsey Walsh hill the freewheel decided to start working of its own accord. And freewheel continued to operate correctly all the way home with no further jumping out of top gear (reverse was still impossible to retain in gear though) Despite blowing an exhaust manifold gasket and a sticky throttle the journey home went quite well, averaging nearly 19mpg over nearly 600 miles.
I am thinking trying reducing the reverse shaft spring by another 1" say but will give it a break until I have fixed the manifold.

[luli]

Can I ask what is the registration No. of your car, so that I cam identify it in the pictures from the event?
Very nice driving 600 miles like that.

[RobHomewood]

Hi Luli
Yes it would ahve been good to be able to see you at the event- I talked to a couple of other people who said the same. Maybe one year?
My reg is FXK 546. She may not show in official pictures on the field becasue we were late back from the hill climb and missed the judging but here she is next to Godfrey Owens 16 DHC in the hotel car park

20230610_161803.jpg (173.96 KiB) Viewed 28454 times

[luli]

Thanks! My wife agrees.