2 Toploader Questions

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?