[Mgs] TD transmission problem

[Mike Duvall]

My 1950 TD has trouble going into 3rd. (note this is not something it  
just started doing but has been a problem ever since I assembled the  
car)   I pulled the transmission cover and discovered the striking  
dog doesn't pull back far enough onto third gear.  If I pull back on  
the shaft with my fingers, it moves back and clicks into place fully  
engaging.   I just can't do it with the shift lever.  All the remote  
control components seem to travel freely but the lever reaches max  
before the dog moves far enough.

As I to measure and look at it, it appears that the 3rd/4th shifter  
shaft is too long and hits the back of the shifter case.  It also  
appears that the shifter case has a spot just for this.I can see the  
imprint of the shaft end on the case.   I can tell the unit has been  
worked on because it has a different bolt than the square headed one  
holding the selector on.

Can anyone tell me the distance between the back of the 3rd/4th shift  
selector and the end of the shaft?  Mine is 7/16ths.

How much of a pain would it be to take some off the end of the  
shaft?    I read in the manual that later TDs had a circle clip added  
to the other end of the shaft.   I also wonder if I have a later  
shaft and an early case.  I don't know why I would need the stop on  
the case if their is a clip stopping the shifter travel.

Any advise or other ideas?

Mike