Club 80-90 Forums

For a change I am asking not answering. Just came home with only reverse, 1st, 4th and 5th gears. Quick look underneath at side of the road and nothing immediately noticeable with linkage. Lever goes into gear positions in the cab, feels just the same as it always has been. Anyone any idea whether it is more likely to be linkage wear or a gearbox/selector fault before I get it up on stands - it is about to pee it down with rain . (I know which I'd rather it be!)

Is it possible that the spline joint is loose or moved round a bit?

Check the usual suspect first. That nylon ball at the bottom of the gearstick. They are all collapsing after 30 years of use. Kits available from Brickwerks.

slippage at the spline joint first suspect
otherwise uncouple the cup and ball by removing the rear bush plate from the box and check if you can actually get the gears at the box, 2nd 3rd plane is push the ball into the box to the spring stop then fore and aft, rear wheels in the air and safely chocked start engine see if you have drive, if not the shaft of the relay lever has parted company with the lever
which can be confirmed by removing the reverse switch housing and observing the shaft of the relay lever in it's hole while selecting the gears from the other side - with the cover off just use your finger to push the cup in the big hole and push the selector ball into the box till it meets the resistance of your finger which is doing the job of the spring you have removed
full strip of box to replace a £6 part, and probably case worn worth sleeving most of mine have the case sleeved now

Cheers Aidan.
Bones are hurting too much at the moment - it will have to wait a week or so before I try to get underneath!
The gear positions are all there and feels as though it has gone into 2nd and 3rd - just no drive in those gears. I feel it is more a gearbox issue but without knowing the intricacies of ours I am not sure.
Bit of a weird drive home with only 1st and 4th gears to play with!

Spot on Aidan -
Got her rear up in the air - selection of gears 2 and 3 at the box and still no drive! Time to get down and dirty methinks as it must be the lever.

box out and full strip down I'm afraid, the relay lever is fitted into case first before the shafts and gears

I suppose it is time those seals were all replaced also! At least it is warmer weather for getting under there.
Scraped the muck off and found that it is an 8L box! As my van started off as a 1987 1600 turbo I expected a 3H so it must have been replaced when someone put a CS lump in her. More mysteries to solve when I get it off.

Different 3H gearbox in there now ( thanks to Danozeman) - the old one will not dismantle, the selector shaft is completely jammed by what ever is broken (there was a piece rattling around in there but that is stuck in there also). Even splitting it as far as the stuck shaft will allow doesn't afford enough access to free things up.
At least I am back on the road.

Oldiebut goodie wrote: At least I am back on the road.

Good to hear

Enjoy the summer

Andy