3 replies to this topic

[Carvell]

Mini Cooper Sport S
Y reg

When dropping down a gear from 3rd to 2nd if you dont apply significant pressure on the stick towards the passenger seat the car really grinds into 2nd gear.

Any ideas?

[Ethel]

Nothing to do with pressure on the stick, your syncromesh is starting to go. Being more thoughtful over the stick movement will just be timing the changes better.

Afraid it's an engine strip job to fix properly, or you could learn to double declutch.

[Figs122uk]

I double clutch...

Ive had this problem since i had the mini ages ago. Nothings starting to go, its called the scandinav crunch or something like... Its how they were made.

[Guess-Works.com]

Nothings starting to go, its called the scandinav crunch or something like

Well in a word FALSE...

The baulkring which sychronises the gear and synchro hub has worn to the extent that it's no longer doing it's job, although this will not technically stop the gearbox from working, what it does mean is you are now grinding the dog teeth together which is going to slowly wear them out. This will cause small metal fragments to be added to your engine oil and will start to migrate through the engine. If left unchecked for a long period of time, not only will you need the gearbox reconditioning or replacing but you'll also be paying up for replacement gears, synchro hubs, and eventually engine as the metal frags are passed through the oil system through to the engine main and big end bearings.