1) When in reverse, I have to pull the gear shift straight back until it
hits the stop, *then* slide it right, over into neutral where 1st - 4th are,
and it will go into any forward gear.  *But* when in reverse, if I am
pushing right as I pull back such that it slips over into neutral where
1st - 4th are and it doesn't hit this "stop", it will NOT go into any
forward gear.  The previous owner said this was normal for a toploader.  He
called it "clearing reverse".  Is this correct?  If not, what could it be?

2) Going from 1st to 2nd, I always feel a few teeth of the gears grind as it
goes into 2nd.  I don't hear it; I just feel it thru the gear shift.  It
doesn't do this going from 2nd to 3rd or 3rd to 4th.  It also does not do
this when I gear down from 3rd to 2nd.  Any idea what the problem may be?