Can't shift out of neutral after rebuild

ScubyRoo · Post by **ScubyRoo** » Sat Apr 02, 2011 10:18 pm

So my gearbox project was 'all done' - until I'd installed it back onto the car. All mounts, stays and linkages correctly connected. Go to change gear and nope, physically cannot move the shifter out of neutral. I've checked around the linkage area and there is nothing fouling the linkage, and the gear stick moves no worries. Once connected to the extension nothing will budge more than a cm or to at the shifter end.

My only idea is that when I put the centre diff/extension housing back on I didn't get something aligned right somewhere along the line. I'm pulling the box back out tmrw and will split it open completely to ensure all the synchros and linkages are working correctly.

Any thoughts before I pull the box out (AGAIN!)?

So bloody close, yet so far!

Cheers,
Owen.

RSR 555 · Post by **RSR 555** » Sun Apr 03, 2011 12:06 pm

By the sound of it, the selector rods inside the box are jammed, maybe even damaged whilst putting the extension housing on. There is detents in each of the 3 selector rods (inside the box) to stop them selecting 2 gears at once but if these are damaged.. you'll be hard pressed to get it out (or in) any gears.

ScubyRoo · Post by **ScubyRoo** » Sun Apr 03, 2011 12:17 pm

Thanks RSR, I thought that might be the case, but didn't know how to describe it. Ah well, back out the box comes... good thing I have a spare box to pull parts off

YouTube · Post by **El_Freddo** » Sun Apr 03, 2011 1:22 pm

I reckon the gear selector arm isn't located correctly in the gear selector rod forks. If you can select gears when the box is out of the subi, I'm stuffed for reasons as to why it's not selecting when in the car...

All the best with it - can't wait to see the results/hear about the details of this secret mission!

And happy birthday! Off to start a birthday thread

Cheers

Bennie

ScubyRoo · Post by **ScubyRoo** » Thu Apr 14, 2011 5:01 pm

Almost 2 weeks later (yay for working in the outdoors - why is it every school wants to have its camp in march or april???)...

Ok, so box is split and I've had a good poke around.

RSR 555 wrote:By the sound of it, the selector rods inside the box are jammed, maybe even damaged whilst putting the extension housing on. There is detents in each of the 3 selector rods (inside the box) to stop them selecting 2 gears at once but if these are damaged.. you'll be hard pressed to get it out (or in) any gears.

With everything removed from the box, the rods will move into their set positions, and there is a definitive stopping point in each spot.

All synchro rings can move between their neutral position into engaged positions, front and back.

El_Freddo wrote:I reckon the gear selector arm isn't located correctly in the gear selector rod forks.

It was hard to tell from removal, but I think this might have been the case.

El_Freddo wrote: If you can select gears when the box is out of the subi, I'm stuffed for reasons as to why it's not selecting when in the car...

Should I be able to change gears using just the extension rod with the gearbox out of the car? Should it take a fair bit of muscle to get it into gear?

Oh how I want my car back...

Cheers,
Owen.

RSR 555 · Post by **RSR 555** » Thu Apr 14, 2011 10:10 pm

Umm.. might help if we know what you done to the box?

If there is mix-matched gears then when the 2 halves of the case are back together, then you might have a 'locked' gearset??

If you like you can email me some pics and details

YouTube · Post by **El_Freddo** » Thu Apr 14, 2011 11:04 pm

Owen I still say that the selector fork was not correctly installed - I made sure that with my mates gearbox I had the selector fork correctly installed before the top plate was done up today.

With a screw driver to fit the hole in the selector shaft you should be able to twist (easy) and pull or push for a gear (hard to do, need some strength) - then by turning the input shaft the rear output and diff stubs should turn as well. Diff stubs will turn slower than the rear output due to the ring and pinion ratios

Cheers

Bennie

AlpineRaven · Post by **AlpineRaven** » Sun Apr 17, 2011 8:12 am

How you going upto date Owen?
Cheers
AP

ScubyRoo · Post by **ScubyRoo** » Sun Apr 17, 2011 11:57 am

AlpineRaven wrote:How you going upto date Owen?
Cheers
AP

Hey AP... Had to work yesterday and Friday, so no more progress. I'm stuck on the other side of town today, so won't get anything done today either

.

Tomorrow morning I'm going to see what I can get done elsewhere on the car, so tomorrow afternoon we can concentrate on getting the gearbox in and working. How long do you think you can stay to help tomorrow?

Cheers,
Owen.