Thanks for your response. I understand what you are saying, but here is my dilema. I removed the flywheel and ground about 0.005 inch off of the flywheel surface the clutch disk contacts and off of the pressure plate mounting surface; I had to remove the pins, and that was a job in itself. I installed a new pressure plate, new clutch disk, and new release bearing. All appears to be working properly. I have played with the clutch adjustment to give me too much slack and too little slack on the clutch cable. I have it adjusted properly right now. If I can put the transmission into all of the other gears without any of them grinding, and it shifts smoothly as it did before, I conclude that the release mechanism (arm and bearing) are working properly and are adjusted properly. I cal also feel when the clutch actually releases when I am driving, and it feels normal. The question I am posing here is why is reverse gear the only gear that is spinning when the clutch is depressed? None of the other gears are.

1989 240DL 206K miles