Hey all…
It’s been a long time coming but just to close this thread out to a successful conclusion, happy to report back that having followed up on all the steers and advice given, I exposed the gearbox and found the problem to be the gearbox bushes. The old ones had completely disintegrated!
The cup and the little bracket was fine.
I am especially grateful to DirkM for his steer towards the ‘gear lever touching the propshaft’, thread - the images there were very helpful, and to all who suggested consulting GoMog, which I did, and found very helpful.
The job itself was a bit fiddly and time consuming but straightforward enough when I knew what I was doing - hardest part was getting the transmission cover back in place, which needed the removal of the hand brake lever, and then getting long bolt securing the gear lever back in and tightened up. My gear lever is driver side, so that was very awkward.
But, job done now, and the gearbox sounds sweet as a nut, no rattles, and is crisp and precise in operation.
Thanks again all.
Gwyn
