14 replies to this topic

[tom]

When I change up from 2nd to 3rd, sometimes I have a bit of trouble getting it into gear, it's usually only when I'm giving it some beans, and I really have to wrestle it to get it to click in, it makes a sort of whining noise, then a crunch when it finally does go in, though.


I reckon it might be the syncro, but I could be wrong... Any ideas?

[cowboy]

do you have any trouble going down the box, from 4th to 3rd, or is it just from 2nd to 3rd your having problems?

[tom]

Just changing up from 2nd to 3rd, it seems.

[Rob]

sounds like the syncro has gone. ive got a box thats got the same thing from 1st to 2nd.

but only when cold.

[Guess-Works.com]

Baulk rings mostly likely worn which are an intergral part of the synchro... but normally it manifests itself the otherway round, when going down the gears...

The whining is the dog teeth just catching the synchro, and the clunk is when they engage when the engine speed gets to approximately the right point to let the gears engage naturally.

To prolong the limited life of the gearbox, best not to force it, drop it into 4th instead.

[tom]

OK, thanks lads.

So a new box is on the cards?

[cowboy]

sounds that way i got 1, just sitting under a table at work

[dklawson]

You can shift at lower speeds and be less aggressive to prolong the gearbox until you want to go into it.

Or... since this problem occurs for you on "up shifting" it's a very simple thing to learn to double clutch. Rev up in 2nd gear like normal. When you're ready to go to 3rd, shift into neutral. Let the clutch out briefly, then push it back in and complete your shift to 3rd. This brief release of the clutch between gears when upshifting accelerates the 3rd motion shaft in the gearbox getting the next higher gear to match speeds (more or less). This is what was done before syncrho gearboxes were built.

Double "de-clutching" (when shifting down) is trickier as you have to blip the throttle in neutral.

[psycho mini driver]

i have the same problem between 3rd and 2nd going down. i find shifting at low speeds helps, also i use the double de-clutch method. but get it sorted asap, because iv knackered my actual gear now aswell due to the crunching.

[tom]

Cheers all.

dklawson, I'll go and give the Yellow Peril a bit of punisment and try out that double clutching.

And Cowboy, I may be in touch with you about that gearbox.

[Guess-Works.com]

At this rate I'm gonna start buillding recon boxes - make a fortune out of you lot :grin: :cheese:

[tom]

Well, I've just been for a blast, given it some welly, and the double clutching does work. Even if it only slows down the change between gears. Nice one Doug.

[dklawson]

You're welcome Tom. My first car was a BMW-2002 and I double clutched it for more than a year until I could afford a replacement, used gearbox.

Guessworks, I'd take you up on a rebuilt gearbox if you weren't so far away! I'll be pulling my gearbox out this winter to replace 3rd gear and its related synchro. I bought some non-Rover parts last time and I've got problems downshifting from 4th to 3rd. What complicates my situation is that I have an early 3-synchro, remote shift gearbox with Cooper-S ratios. Parts have been somewhat difficult to find.

[Guess-Works.com]

Not 'arf Doug, I just picked up a CR 4 synchro, and I thought I was lucky to find that.... 3 synchro's are like rocking horse poo.... but just a thought... the third gear is the same is it not... I'm going off to check now...

2 mins later....

No you're right, on the 3 synchro the gears and laygear are different, whereas on the 4 synchro, it's only the laygear and 1st motion which are different.

[dklawson]

I found a good, used, 3rd gear from a guy in NY state. He also has a brand new input shaft for my gearbox should I need it. I'm headed to Virginia next weekend to buy a complete donor gearbox... just in case.

I contacted every U.K. vendor I've dealt with (and some I haven't) to see if they had any of 3-synchro parts that I needed. The problem is that I need Cooper-S ratio gears. There are a lot more of the "standard" ratio parts as used on the 850 and 998. It took a lot of searching to find the bearings and related bits but I think I'm ready. I'm putting this off until after my inspection (like your MOT) in late December.