5 speed box finding reverse

[jerrybus]

Can anyone spare a minute to answer a daft question? I've been trying to find reverse on an 89 dg five speed van that's been stood for years according to the seller and the state of it. Engine's tuning over ok and while I'm sorting out the poor electrics I thought I'd try the clutch and slave etc. It seems to go into all the forward gears ok but reverse is defeating me. I haven't driven a van for a few years, the last was LHD which always seemed to make reverse a doddle. Push down and dogleg up to the left doesn't seem to be working...Any ideas? Cheers

[davidoft1]

Push down, Hard over , can you get first ok, is it running whilst you try to select gears ?

[jerrybus]

Cheers Davidoft, tried again and found it with the 'hard over' advice. Totally forgotten the routine, you'd think having had several of them, including an RHD which was fitted with an LHD gearstick, you'd never forget...Not sure what this means about the clutch after apparently ten years stood in a field but that's a great start. Thanks again.