M shifting question

[Fred47M]

On my M about half the time it takes a
little bit of moving the shifter back and
forth to go into gear, example sometimes to
go into reverse it helps to go into 1st
first etc. Vice versa. Shifter looks built
up and fits nicely in its slot. So my
question is what is worn the most causing
that. Those springs and forks or deeper.

 

[D Slater]

Normal for the gear teeth to sometimes but on the end of two teeth. Moving the shift lever to another gear sometimes will move a gear for teeth line up. When it does it try letting the clutch pedal up some with lever in neutral and try again. With practice you can let up just enough to roll gears and not enough to wait for gears to stop to keep them from raking.

 

[Ellis Kinney]

I personally think that is the nature of the beast with a non synchronized transmission. Solution for me is to put the transmission in neutral and let the clutch out to move the gears a little and try again. The gears just aren't lined up correctly. Don't fight it, she is an old girl. Ellis