Difficult selecting forward gears after reverse

[lotuseater]

Please advise: Our series 3 is generally running really well, but after being in reverse, about 30% of the time, you simply can't engage any forward gear, tried dipping clutch again etc but won't go into gear. The only way seems to be to re-engage reverse and move back again a little further, then try again. Sometimes having to repeat this a few times.

Once forward gears are available, they're all fine. No undue noises. Sometimes finding reverse results in a little careful 'crunching', but nothing too alarming.

Is this likely to completely let us down - i.e we'll be totally unable to select forward gears?
What's causing it?
What's the fix?

I'm assuming it's a gearbox out job. I'm confident the linkage is all good, even fitted a new gear lever as the old ball end had worn on previous one.

Seems like it'll be a 'gearbox' winter, as my Lotus is dripping more than seems acceptable!

Thanks

[Alan Drover]

Morning Lotuseater.
Have you checked the oil level? Another possibility is that the clutch pushrod to the master cylinder may need adjusting.
What Lotus have you got? My mate's got a 1972 Élan Sprint and a 1973 Europa JPS Special.
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Alan Drover.
1975 SWB hardtop with a 2.5 petrol engine, overdrive, front disc brakes, parabolic springs, hand throttle, Defender doors and Wolf wheels.
Also a 1977 Stage 2 MGB GT.

[lotuseater]

Will check oil level, but think it should be OK as I only filled it from empty a few months ago and there no more than a small drip on the garage floor. Best to check the simple stuff first though ! I'll also lift the selectors off, possibly (after checking oil), before going down the route of dropping the gearbox (got a bolt on crossmember).

I have a 1969 Lotus Europa (fully restored it a couple of years ago - took 2.5 yrs vs Land Rover 12months. Thats the dry weather car.

[BigJohn]

As the problem doesn't seem to affect the forward gears, once you are amongst them, I would suggest that the issue is probably down to a worn selector shoe that is catching on the slip ring.
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110 CSW 2.5 Petrol (soon to be gone).
TD5 Discovery.

Member 9329 (re-joined the club)

[lotuseater]

thank you - will make sure to have a look at the selector shoe(s). Is it likely to be fairly obvious?