New transmission -- 1st and reverse not working

[ikaria]

Ok, so I just did my first transmission replacement, but alas the 1st and reverse gears seem missing.
Did I screw something up or was the box just not put together correctly?

Here are the clues --

1st seems like it could almost catch, the reverse is missing completely.

My old transmission was the L50 ('82 pickup). The replacement, also an L50, looked quite clean though I bought it used.

Any help appreciated -- dread having to take it out again...

[2manytoys]

I know nothing of the L50 so just throwing this out based on my W56 and R151F. Does it have a shifter bushing that may be worn out?

Look at Marlin's improved shifter bushings.

[ikaria]

I just installed both a fresh Marlin's socket and seat. So no, that's not it, thank you, though.

[superyota]

i bet you have the reverse fork off.  pull the top cover and take a look.  I made the same mistake.  but I only had reverse missing.  also, i remember marlin saying something about if the transmission is dropped on its bellhousing, and its not in first or reverse(don't remember which) when it happens, the gears bind up and the only way to bix it is to pop the cover off and shift it back to where it needs to be. 

[ikaria]

thanks, superyota - that sounds pretty plausible. Either the drop or the guy who sold it to me might have opened it up
in good faith (just to examine its state or something) and screw up the forks.

Could the reverse fork being off affect the 1st gear only? The rest seems to be working nicely...

[superyota]

I don't think the reverse could be affecting 1st.  I might be completely wrong though.  But I doubt it's anything serious.  should just be a matter of popping the top and lining things back up.  pretty easy and straight forward.

[ikaria]

Yeah, sounds like that might be it. There goes my weekend. Live & learn

[ikaria]

Just to conclude --

Took out the replacement used tranny, opened the top, played with it a bit, but still
couldn't get it to shift into 1st and reverse while on the ground.

Ended up putting back the old transmission. It works as before. Not ideal, but this is my
daily driver so I'll make do till I find a 'good' replacement. The one I got was obviously in
a pretty bad shape.

So, in the end, all I got out of the whole exercise: a new seat and socket. a 12 min replacement. LOL.