"new" gearbox - now how do we keep it alive?

[Johanna]

We've just had our gearbox replaced after the old one totally seized up and even pressing and releasing the clutch over and over again wouldn't make first gear go in.
Now the new gearbox is working, but far from ideal. Just driving it home from the garage first gear seemed a bit stiff and there was a problem getting it out of gear too, hopefully just something temporary.
Now what's the best course of action to get the most life out of the gearbox. Should we take it back rightaway to have the linkage checked once again? Or just leave it and and hope it settles in a bit by itself (as if by magic)? Can we break it any more by just driving it? I know we shouldn't force the gears in but what's the alternative if it won't go in? try a different gear? de-clutch again?
I just really really really don't want to break down again.

[OLD ONE]

Go back to the garage that fitted it and complain. It sounds like the clutch is not clearing

[Johanna]

Well we've already paid for 6 hours spent adjusting everything so I kind of doubt they can do it any better. So are we just going to destroy it all if we keep driving it like this?

[R0B]

you most certainly are not going to do it any good..i would take it back and demand they put it right.bet they took your money with no problems...

are we just going to destroy it all if we keep driving it like this?

[OLD ONE]

If you are a member of the AA or RAC. get them involved, thats wot you pays yer money for.

[Johanna]

We do have breakdown cover (and have used it extensively!) but not with either of those two. How would that help though, if we were with them? We haven't broken down! I'm just worried that we might.

[OLD ONE]

AA and RAC have solicitors to help in this type of event . Well they used to , I may be out of date. But you have to do something. Dont let the garage get away with it, they are in the wrong.
I had a Mini years ago, I had new tyres fitted and I requested, in writing, that the garage doing the job did not use the air gun to do the wheel nuts up, just hand tight and when I came to collect I would Torque them up to the correct reading.
When I went to pick it up they had used the air gun. Got on to RAC they had a man down to the garage in 2.3. hours. I finished up, after a short time, with not only the new tyres but new wheels, studs and nuts.

[Johanna]

Yeah, fair enough, but the thing is that the gearbox is a used part that I sourced privately and that comes with no guarantee whatsoever. They can't really do anything about that.

[Mudlark]

What garage are you using in Bristol Johanna ?

[Johanna]

I don't really want to "name and shame" them because they've been very helpful so far. I think they have adjusted everything as well as is possible but the gearbox just isn't new, in fact it's a year older than our last one.

[ermie571]

Johanna,
just a thought....

have you tried bleeding the clutch? Was this one of the adjustments? Mine started with first being stiff, and gradually got worse until the only way I could change gear was to stop the engine, engage the gear, and pull away! Fortunately, only had to do a very short distance in second, but turning her round to park was fun!!

In complete panic coz she is my daily drive, I thought it was a cylinder slave or master or both had gone. Harryman said to start at the beginning _sage advicew - and bleed the clutch. He said to watch the little arm on the side of the gear box - should move a couple of inches with the clutch depressed. We did look, and it seemed to move adequately, but we bled it anyway.

From being unable to select any gear with the engine running, I achieved full gear changes, and I like to think better than previously! The gadget that we used to do it cost a couple of quid from a parts place, and it didn't take very long to do. Also...have you checked you fluid levels?

Hope you sort it.

Emma

[HarryMann]

Ah I remember Emma - and it all ended up in the Wiki - Wiki, Wiki, Wiki
always check that first for problems (well, now anyway)...

http://www.club80-90.co.uk/wiki/index.p ... isengaging
for starters and there's probably more.

You really DO need to know if it is a dragging clutch before suspecting the linkages (which should be fairly obvious).. does it graunch when going into gear with clutch pedal right down, or jerk the vehicle, or make a whining noise as you push the lever into gear (against the synchro mechanism) - if so, its highly likely the clutch and not the gearchange selectors/limkages at all. If its 'finding the gear', that is getting the lever in the right position, but then when you do it goes in cleanly, and there's no dragging with the clutch down, then that of course is the linkages or the box itself.

Alt. get someone who knows about vehciles to try it, 2 seconds and they'd say clucth or gearchange!

and Johanna - do PM Mudlark with the name of that garage.. he lives in Bristol and means well I'm sure, could have some good advice for you, Ok?

[stuckin88]

I have to say that if the gearbox was secondhand it could be almost as bad as the busted one--these gearboxes have a habit of failing suddenly with little warning --all you can do is check yer gear linkage is correctly adjusted & is not unduly worn & yer gearbox oil level is correct--oil should have been changed, anyway---Shiplake Motors will supply a recon 4 speed for £375 they will also fit it for areasonable price--tel 01189 403125

["WEAZLECHIN"]

like you say, its a "used part" it may indeed be knackered...... did you see it in use before handing over your hard earned ?? done it myself once on an escort van. £150 down the pan. (never again)

[HarryMann]

But do check the clutch operation as described first, yeh?

Has Johanna gone, left us, departed, doing the washing up, under the clutch slave cylinder .. Oh well!