Re LHD, I thought the selector plate with the ramp, has the ramp on the opposite side from the RHD, can't remember the correct orientation.
Its an EMPI changer in the OP: this has a moveable reverse lockout gate under the ball pivot for the stick, which you lift with a trigger, and a rectangular aperture to limit the gearstick travel situated between the pivot and the ball that goes in the socket in the end of the gearchange rod going to the gearbox. Because of that rectangular aperture, when properly set up it goes exactly into gear. But even a little bit off one side or the other or front/ rear on thegearchange you cease to be able to get the gearbox easily into all four gears. Part of the price you pay for a smaller movement at the top of the gearlever... The reverse gate mechanism remains the same side regardless of LHD/RHD because the gearbox is the same way round on any bus. There is some difference in plate designs for stock think thats more early/late ...
Just a quick update guys, and thank you all for your help and input, at close of play yesterday I had re-installed my empi shifter and now have 2nd,3rd,4th and reverse gears just looking for that little bugger 1st
Sometimes rotating the base of the shifter slightly can help. Each gear is then precisely guided with the stick running along the edge of the gate or the reverse lock out plate. If it wont go then there are a few more things. Front bushing on selector rod should be new. Gate on EMPI changer wears and becomes slightly wider. Shows up as third/ fourth being easier to engage if you only lightly push the stick right, or you actually have to move it left a little. Or the same for first/ second but slightly to the right of the gate. Cured this by first screwing on a metal strip to narrow the gate then tack welding it in place when it was right. Another one which is annoying if you have just taken the gearbox out is the donut in the nose cone of the gearbox wears out and then you have to exaggerate the movement of the gearstick, or 'flick' it into gear.
Didn’t have a chance to play “hunt for the elusive 1st gear” yesterday but today is the day, I can feel it in my bones but thanks once again for the pointers. Front bushing is new and the empi is less than 1000 miles old and before I took it out gear selection was very smooth.....note to self “ if it isn’t broke, don’t fix it”
If only!! Been at it for most of the morning, every gear goes in fine apart from that mischievous 1st gear I’ve had the plate adjusted forward, backwards, to the left to the right (que for a song!) every time it feels as though it’s selecting 1st gear but when I release the clutch I just get a whirring of the gears......it’s driving me to dispare!! Still got at least another 8 odd hours of daylight so onwards and upwards!!
It sounds like there's not enough fore-and-aft movement of the selector "ball" under the floor to get 1st. Putting shifter forward to go into 1st actually moves the selector ball backwards to shove the gearbox selector shaft "in" at the gearbox end. Try sliding the shifter backwards a bit to get a bit more shove.
Nah, that’s too easy a fix.......and prior to me taking this one out the empi had proved faultless!! Now where is that bloody first gear?
