2nd gear is temperamental!

[yorkierob]

Hi my 85 1.9 dg is a pain at times to get in 2nd! I bought a kit of bushes n bobbins off flea bay is it worth trying to fit them or should I just 'try harder'?

[kevtherev]

I think you need to be finding out why it's getting worse rather than trying harder.
Start with the bushes under the stick then move to the gearbox end and look at the linkage there.

I remember removing my engine and forgot to disconnect the linkage, result was the long selector rod got slightly bent and it would not go into 2nd and 4th

[yorkierob]

thanx i'll do that although its only a problem when i think it will be (hope that makes sense!) If theres no pressure, ie no stream of traffic and the need to hit 2nd as going up an incline!, then I just drops in fine
will let you know how i get on so maybe it helps someone else

[DarkPoet]

I know just what you mean Rob - I could hardly get 1st at all so bought the refurb kit from Just Kampers. Better now but not when I'm thinking about it or if I get too blasé

Think it's just the bus keeping me honest

[Aidan]

change the gearbox oil, see what the plug has to tell you

[yorkierob]

my mechanical skills aren't great so what do you mean by 'see what the plug tells you' ?
I don't want to make things worse by trying to adjust/fit things that I'm really not sure about Thanx for your help guys

[Fin]

The plug on the box where the oil drains has a magnet on it to collect all of the little fragments of metal that get stripped off second every time you jam it home ragging it off the lights.
If it's got big bits on it you have a problem, a clump of filings is not unusual.
A gear oil change smoothed my box out lovely - I think it was a little low on oil too...

Loads on this in the Wiki

[Aidan]

whs

everyone should change the fluids on their new vehicle when they buy it unless they have proof that they have been done recently
changing the brake fluid will improve the braking usually and protect the hydraulic components from corrosion
changing the transmission fluid will improve the gearshift usually and prolong it's life and the debris on the plug each time will guide as to the state of the box, if you have little deposits each time, then a lot then it's rebuild time, ideally before it fails when it gets real expensive
changing the engine oil will help prolong it's life and tell you how well it was previously looked after often, if it comes out black you know it wasn't done regularly if petrol, or that it's a diesel if diesel
changing the coolant will ensure that you have the correct coolant mix in there to protect the engine and cooling system for the next couple of years, important with wbx

then change them.....
engine oil 6 monthly
brake fluid and coolant two yearly
gearbox oil 3 yearly
tyres 6 yearly

or you could not bother, drive it, enjoy it, save your money and then sell the van when it is on it's last legs - like a lot of peeps seem to do, leaving the new owner to pick up the bill for the missed maintenance

just my humble opinion of course

[yorkierob]

thanx and i agree no matter what the future holds i intend to keep up the maintanance myself - have checked the wiki and alot of info on fluids to use etc so its underneath i go this weekend - thanx guys

[edoh]

good luck!
and don't forget the classic piece of wiki advice -
of removing filler plug on side - FIRST!then removing drain plug from underneath -
so that you can always refill and keep van going if drain plug a problem to shift - an overnight soak with plus gas or similal on both plugs might be good too -

edoh

[yorkierob]

after reading a bit on the wiki about getting the syncromesh up to speed I tried taking 1st gear a little bit further (not thrashing the a*** outta it!!) and sure as damn it it dropped sweetly into 2nd every time
I will also be changing my oil though and then I know its done - thanx for all your help peeps