4-speed manual transmission question.

[Ron]

While checking the oil in level in the manual transmission, I was in some sort of trance, and loosened the nut next to the filler plug.  The nut came out with a threaded brass rod.  I panicked and screwed it all back, but the transmission does have a strange metallic rattle in 1st and 2nd at low RPM's. 

I've found nothing on adjusting this rod, but I probably did not put it back where it was.  In looking at the parts manual, it appears the this threaded rod holds the reverse idler gear shaft in place. 

Should I just tighten the threaded rod, with a flat bladed screwdriver, and use the nut on the side of the transmission to lock the rod in place?  Is there a danger the shaft has moved inside the transmission and I need to open the transmission and move it to a proper place?

The transmission is working fine, except for the noise, which is probably the reverse idler gear shaft rattling.

[Benz Dr.]

If something comes loose inside the transmission it could get really ugly fast. There's a possibility that it could be sorted out after removing the top cover. Trans would have to be removed first.

[Ron]

I'll go back and loosen the nut, use a screwdriver to tighten the brass threaded rod against the reverse gear shaft, then tighten the nut (which I'm guessing is a lock nut, then see if the noise goes away. 

I understand completely, it could be very nasty if that shaft came out. 

[Ron]

It took about 1.5 turns to get the threaded shaft to bottom out, and with the nut then tightened, the transmission seemed was back to normal.  Thanks Dr. Benz.

[Benz Dr.]

I'd say you were lucky and the way the gear sits in the trans prevented it from jumping out and doing a destructo-matic.