Gearbox Syncro?
Turbo Mini Forums

Ello!

Driving back from work yesterday, changing down the box coming to a roundabout. Gearchange into 3rd seems very stiff and reluctant but goes in, down in to 2nd and it wouldnt go in at all, very stiff again and gave it more of a yank to try and get it into the gear to join the roundabout. This resulted in a massive graunching noise as the gears clashed.

So i pulled over and tried re-selecting the gears, managed to select all ok so i carried on home.

When i got back i checked the gear selector shaft steady bar and collar where secure. Also checked the clutch throw out gap and all seemed ok.

Went to start it again this morning and cant get any gears, with the clutch down when i try to get a gear, they just clash and graunch. Tried again after wiggleing it about in neutral and got it into reverse, however once i got it into gear there was a series of uniform bangs/graunches and the car jolted with each of these!

Left the fucker at home and drove the clio to work lol.

Anyone have any ideas? I think it might be a syncro problem perhaps? Or clutch obviously what you reckon.

Only thing i did recently was the diff output shaft gaskets, which meant i had the collar spring and ball out under drivers side cover. I cant think if it would be to do with that as the car was fine to drive 20 miles to my work and about 15 on the way back! So i think something must have shit itself and broken.

Might just use this excuse to rip the engine out and stick my turbo motor in

Edited by richminiturbo. on 1st Aug, 2008.

Hi,
Sound like more than just a syncro. Check the detent first if not, box out :(
Cheers,
Gavin :)

VEMs Authorised Installer / Re-seller. K head kits now available!

WB/EGT gauges. Click here for customers write-up

Visit www.doyouneedabrain.co.uk

My Mini build diary

Why did you have the collar, spring and ball out when you did the gaskets - all that normally happens is the spring relaxes and pokes out a bit until you put the cover back (new "O" ring as well as gasket I hope), there is no need to disturb the sleeve especially.
The sleeve is the really important bit, it's the interlock that stops two gears being engaged at once, but it's hard to imagine that the cover would have gone back on if the sleeve hadn't been replaced properly.
Having said that, most of the symptoms are the clutch not releasing properly apart from "bangs, graunches and JOLTS.."

The only two times I've experienced that was
1 mainshaft nut came loose allowing gears to float and not select properly
2 broken diff pin, biggest jolt being when it got trapped under the crownwheel and punched a hole in the gearbox casing.

Still, most of the symptoms sound like clutch not releasing properly though - release bearing failed perhaps to explain some of the noise?

If its not the clutch though, I'd pull the gearbox off ASAP.

EDIT - do all gears select OK with the engine not running ???

Edited by Rod S on 1st Aug, 2008.

Schrödinger's cat - so which one am I ???

Sounds like clutch to me as the syncros don't go together all of the sudden.

is this a pre verto clutch setup if it is,
take the spring of the clutch arm pull the arm away from the engine with you hand then turn the 7/16th bolt out till it just tuches the arm then back in 3 flats,
re atch spring and pump clutch peddle a few times then try slecting gears with the engine running sounds like a clutch problam the banging and jurking is most likle because it is not fully working,

if its a verto setup I would supect the flywheel has come lose.
regards,
Paul.

I had a "low" biting point and sometimes had trouble with the gears, it turned out the push rod between the arm and slave was a bit worn.

http://www.manchesterminis.co.uk/index.php...sosinfo&sosid=9