Will only engage 1st while stationary

[Daphnia]

otherwise makes a horrible crunching noise.
All other gears go in ok but they can be a bit hard to locate. Miles of travel between them.
Newbie/just bought it BTW
1.9 Petrol 1990

[CovKid]

How does the clutch feel?

[Daphnia]

Fine.
Not too heavy or light.

[multisi]

Clutch slave cylinder on gearbox maybe.

[Daphnia]

Cheers.

Will get that looked at.

[Ralf85]

Why would you engage 1st gear at any other time than when stopped? Doesn't seem like a problem to me.

[CovKid]

Sounds like 'point of entry' issues - ie you got them

Prob needs new slave (possibly new clutch but examine slave first) and gearshift rod bush overhaul which would tighten things up. Other things that can have an impact on gear changing are gearbox and engine mounts. Most of this is in the Haynes and more in-depth in the WIKI (particularly gearshift rod bushes).

Once sorted you'll probably have 20 years without these issues but you know how it is, owners often leave things, and leave things, and then you end up with loads to do.

[Daphnia]

Ralf85: Slowing down at junctions etc. I have always geared down. This happens while clutch in (in case you are misunderstanding).

CovKid: I know. I fully expected this sort of thing. This is the sort of "entry fee" you expect to pay. I have a mate who is pretty good at fixing car type stuff and there are a couple of garages not too far away from me who can (hopefully) cover anything too complex for him. I just want it all in reasonable condition in time for next spring. Had a couple of short distance training runs to find out the issues and going to get it in best trim for next year. Thanks for the tips BTW.

[what2do]

Lordy, don't think I've used first for anything other than starting from a stationary position.

[Daphnia]

So when coming to a junction/lights where you know you will be stopping, you don't drop through the gears as you are slowing?
Maybe I have been doing it wrong all these years.

[Oldiebut goodie]

Have never gone down to first when slowing in over 45 years! 2nd maybe. Might be that I learnt in vehicles that didn't have synchromesh on first though.

[paperhouselad]

Have never done this either, in any car over the years, probably down to 3rd only, too much like hard work driving this way.

[Kieran1984]

Personally I think 2nd Is the lowest gear you should go into on these old girls. As for the gears being a bit vague, mine are the same you just get used to it.


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[gary1998]

So when coming to a junction/lights where you know you will be stopping, you don't drop through the gears as you are slowing?
Maybe I have been doing it wrong all these years.

yep your doing it wrong ..never drop in to first while moving .. second sometimes then if you actually come to a
standstill change into first to pull away

[ZsZ]

First bleed the clutch, do some lever alignment. Then change the gearbox oil (take a photo of the drain plug magnet "tree"). I recommend Castrol Syntrans Transaxle 75W-90 it will help the synchronisers so it smooths the gearchange.
If these wont help then you can try changing the clutch slave. If it wont work either then it is time for gearbox rebuild.