Club 80-90 Forums

I've just found that the gearshift linkage has gone very sloppy on my 'seized' gearbox.

Ever since someone pointed out that if I can push the van by holding down the clutch then the gearbox can't be seized, I have been trying to understand why the van won't move without the clutch being disengaged.

If I start the engine, then slip the clutch the van will only rock slightly forwards and back.

I'm wondering whether perhaps I don't actually need a new box. Maybe sorting out the selectors, or/and gearshift linkage may fix it.

Anyone any ideas?

mmmm, sounds like ya troubles may not be that expensive Big lad,
Get a young whippersnapper to crawl under ya van and knock the gear selector arm aroiund till you find neutrell ?

any member local ?

Has the clutch actually failed? ie slipping all the time? or do you mean it only moves forward or back an inch or 2, until mechanical resistance is made?
So you can move it whitht the clutch depressed? sounds odd.. as any locking forces in the box would prevent the box from operating at all...

hi uncl tone,
i have had the selector ball at the gear box end drop slightly and the box suck in gear, easy fix two 13mm bolts hold the sector plate to the box slacken them find neutral on box and selector and push the plate up tight to the box and tighten the bolts this fixed the fualt i had,hope this helps,if you dont get it sorted im still up for techy weekender down your way, me old cocker

toomanytoys wrote:Has the clutch actually failed? ie slipping all the time?

No.

toomanytoys wrote:or do you mean it only moves forward or back an inch or 2, until mechanical resistance is made?
So you can move it whitht the clutch depressed? sounds odd.. as any locking forces in the box would prevent the box from operating at all...

Yes.

Yeah... I know. It seems the box wont 'turn' when being driven, but will when the clutch is disengaged and it's being pushed.

Weird.

philippacman wrote:hi uncl tone,
i have had the selector ball at the gear box end drop slightly and the box suck in gear, easy fix two 13mm bolts hold the sector plate to the box slacken them find neutral on box and selector and push the plate up tight to the box and tighten the bolts this fixed the fualt i had,hope this helps,if you dont get it sorted im still up for techy weekender down your way, me old cocker

Cheers mate. Maybe the little bits of metal sleeve that came out on the gearbox drain plug last time give a clue??

http://archive.club8090.co.uk/viewtopic ... highlight=

OK, maybe its stuck in 3rd/4th... and you would have to slip the clutch like bloody mad to get that rolling... box out job I reckon..

toomanytoys wrote:OK, maybe its stuck in 3rd/4th... and you would have to slip the clutch like bloody mad to get that rolling... box out job I reckon..

Possibly stuck in 3rd AND 4th....

When it originally seized it was pointing down hill a bit, and I still couldn't get it to roll forward in gear by using the engine and clutch. However it would roll, seamingly out of gear, with clutch held down.... it is very strange.

Canaldrifter......Your last post sounds very familiar.
I had a prop with a customers Mini many moons ago with the same symptoms. I bet you have the same trouble. A broken or slipped selector resulting in selection of TWO gears at the same time.

The box is probably broken, and engaging 2 gears at the same time, often 1st/Reverse or 3rd/4th. This locking will be erratic, sometimes locking and sometimes not, but you risk doing a lot more damage by trying to drive it.

The strangeness is because the locking may depend on whether torque is flowing from the engine to the box or back the other way... don't take my word for it, check the selection rods and arms maybe, but something isn't right inside it, is it?

PS. Horrible noises or the gearlever 'kicking' when letting the clutch up will help confirm its the box...

Things have moved on. Bumped into 'Camper' outside my door yesterday morning, who offered me a 4-speed box for a diesel that he just happened to have in his back garden!

He delivered it yesterday, bless 'im. It comes without input shaft or bell housing, but they could be swopped over I think.

So, I guess now the plan is to buy a clutch assembly, and wait until our March Sarfern Techy weekend, and hope the local experts can help me change the boxes over.

Progress! Great!!