I have a moss non syncro box and have great difficulty selecting 1st and reverse. Its very difficult to know what gear i am in? Qute dangerous at traffic lights, etc.

 

The Moss box never had the greatest gate to start with. Your LHS (Reverse) detent spring/s has/have probably gone soft or is/are way out of adjustment if it is similar to the all synchro box which I think it is. New springs or adjustment required. Let me see if I can find a pic. On the all synchro box you can just catch reverse on the change from first to second if this is not set up perfectly.

On the Moss I have always gone to second & then straight forward for 1st selection.

 

Thanks Glyn, not very familiar with the forum etiquette. I have thought it was the spring but was concerned that it might be something more serious.

 

Don't worry about etiquette. We just chat & help one another.

I have no decent way of explaining it to you. other than a diagram & parts clip.

Reference everything from the Gearchange lever and the Reverse gear striking rod. Orientate yourself from pushing/pulling the gear lever to the left. (Remember the base of the lever is moving to the right). From the short parts list I have given you, you can see how the mechanism works & why you can select reverse too easily. Plunger for reverse selection, spring tensioning reverse plunger, ball locking reverse plunger, spring loading the locking ball. dowel screw. Replace all those springs & maybe the ball & make sure you like the resistance to selecting reverse accidentally.

You do not need to remove the gearbox. Remove the console & the fibreglass tunnel cover taking into account the gearlever, knob & rubber gaiter. Then the top cover of the gearbox is fully exposed & you can remove it & work on the change mechanism. (on the all synchro you can access those springs, plunger etc. externally. It is not clear whether this is possible on the Moss. So take a look before removing the box cover.)

Good luck!

 

That's my box and on mine when I got the car the shifter was very sloppy _ red arrow shows the stick is rubber mounted.
The rubber was shot and the bolt on the bottom of the stick was barely tight.

I have no problem shifting and there is no chance of accidently selecting reverse.
I have to purposely thrust the stick into reverse as the spring is so strong to get it there.
So if the rubber mount is healthy, search for what Glyn said.

 

Thanks Jeff. The more minds the better. I replaced that rubber on my all synch box. It was not loose but deteriorated. What worries me is that the OP seems to have little resistance in selecting reverse. This should not be so.

I hope you are right. That would be an ultra easy fix

 

I'm pretty sure that Glyn has identified the problem. Either the spring is weakened or there's something blocking it. Also the advice to go toward second before first is spot on. Before you take the lid off the gearbox and access to the selectors, push the leaver through the gears to find any obstacles across neutral. Some very careful grinding of the selectors can improve the shift quality. I know it's obvious, but keep in mind when you have things apart that what goes on in the selector mecanism is exactly the opposite way round from how the gear knob moves. You can't make a Moss box change gear as smoothly as a RWD Ford, but it can be quite acceptable.

 

Thanks Glyn Thats fantastic.

 

Thanks Jeff
Obviously will have to take the top off so will follow your advice.