Grinding reverse gear?- How to cure. One method.

Does your reverse gear grind when you try to select it? This is a common problem with our cars.
It is  often down to stretch in the relevant cable.
Fortunately there is an easy fix. You can adjust the cable length at the Bell crank.
 
Here you see the two cable end joints with the bell crank.
The lower one is the cable that selects reverse, first, third and fifth. This is the cable that you need to shorten. 
Check the rose joints for wear, (the rubber degrades over time)
If they are still Ok, then you can proceed.
The rose joint is simply threaded onto the cable end.  There is a locking nut on the cable that secures the cable end. Expose it by pushing the rubber gaiter forward. Or in this case, remove the tattered remnants!🤣
 
 Free off the lock nut by rotating it clockwise a couple of turns. 

Now you can separate the joint from the ball of the bell crank using a flat bladed screw driver to lever it apart.

 

 

Now  as it says in the pic, rotate the rose joint end in one complete turn. (Clockwise ).

Pop the joint back onto the ball. Now extract yourself from under the car,  start the engine and try to engage reverse. It should be easier. If it still grates slightly, repeat the procedure and turn the joint in one more turn.
When you are happy, tighten the lock nut back up. It's also worth putting a little grease on both rose joints of the bell crank.

 

very useful. Ill check mine as reverse can take some pressure to get into.

Not having looked at the bell crank before, is it an engine cover off job or easy to tackle from underneath ?

Underneath. Dry day Saturday so no excuses not to do it. G.