Well, thanks to Chris Sharp and Joe Curry for making good suggestions. I
tried at least half a dozen times today to remove and re-install the
transmission cover so that first gear would work. Chris thought that first
and reverse were engaging simultaneously -- so did Joe. With the cover off
and the gearshift attached, I ran the linkage through the gear changes and
everything worked the way it should. Going into first did NOT move the rail
that controls reverse. Then, upon reassembly, I made sure that the forward
fork goes where it's supposed to and that the first/second selector fork fit
over the top of the large gear in the rear of the gearbox. I made certain
that the rear selector peg went into the slot for the reverse rail and
tightened everything down again. Same deal. All other gears, including
reverse, work beautifully. The shifter will go into first with no trouble,
but the gear will simply not turn. Locked tightly. So now, I guess I'm the
only person in the world with three forward gears (2,3,4), reverse and a
parking gear (formerly 1st). What a drag. I don't relish having to drive
on the freeway to my closest Brit mechanic and paying him $65 an hour to
solve the problem. The bitter irony of all this that is just driving me
nuts is that prior to swapping the top, the gearbox worked exactly as it
should, including first.
Best wishes,
Jeff in San Diego
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