Difficulty getting 1st and Reverse. Sticks in 1st gear

[lozhedgehog]

Hi, my 1987 T25 1.9l petrol has a worsening gear shift problem.
It started being difficult to get into reverse, nigh on impossible at times. Soon the same was happening in first gear.
More recently it's getting stuck in 1st when stopped. I can get it out of first when moving forwards (i.e. into 2nd) but when standing with engine running or not, it will not come out at all.
I have to drive off to get it out of 1st.
Have recently put on a new front gearbox mount as the old one was shot at and rattling around, but it has been driven since then, the problem started before this and has got steadily worse.
Had a look under gear shift and along to gearbox, and nothing seems (to my untrained eye) to be loose or amiss!!
Bank holiday coming up so wanted to get it sorted.
Any help greatly appreciated.

[Aidan]

if it's a 5 speed then the pinion bearing is worn, the pinion shaft is moving forward in the box compressing 1st gear between the synchro hub and the end case thrust bearing, first gear and the synchro hub will be shot and if the bearing has collapsed under first gear then the pinion shaft will be shot

when was the oil last changed ?

ps on holiday as of 8 o clock tonight for a week

[toomanytoys]

Does it go into any other gear easily whilst stationary??? if not.. is most likely the spigot bearing breaking up (unless the clutch is toast) .. this needs fixing... gearbox out I an afraid...

If its just 1st/rev, hen worth checking the UJ on the gear shift linkage, about half way along... if this is loose/slipped then it wont allow the lever to move the linkage far enough...

[lozhedgehog]

Cheers for responding so quickly.
So... not the simple adjustment I was hoping for!
It is a 5 speed box. When it comes to when the gearbox oil was last changed I really don't
know, only had the her for a month. It did have a new engine earlier in the year so could have been done then.

Sounds expensive and not something I could do myself on the drive :-S

[lozhedgehog]

Toomanytoys, If I park up NOT in first, It will go into 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th no problem, as when driving. It will drop into first when stopped but then won't come out again!!

[toomanytoys]

Sounds more like Aidans diagnosis then.. He should know... he's the gearbox guru.....

[Ian Hulley]

Having a decent gearbox rebuild done by Aidan is the best course of action (one we took as well some years ago) swapping a gearbox isn't the huge job it sounds IF you are mechanically au fait and have a chum to help. Remember you'll want to be changing the clutch while it's out.

Ian.

[lozhedgehog]

Cheers all,

It did have a new clutch fitted 2-3000 miles ago before we had her, not long after the new engine.
Looks like time to save up and have a trip down to Warrington to see Aiden when he gets back of holiday then.

As we're not going to go away for the bank holiday in the camper now I'll have to see if the awning will fit on a Chrysler PT Cruiser LOL