9 replies to this topic

[Matt_Brum]

Hi,

Has anyone had a similar problem, if so any ideas would be appreciated before i start ripping the box out in the rain! (

Was driving along, all ok. Pulled away in 1st and then started slowing, changed into second not really thinking about it(late in evening and carried on fine untill i selected 1st again to pull away from an island. Just sat there and revved away!!!

All the other gears are ok and the linkage feels as though its pulling in the right direction - just seems a really strange problem i havent come across before

Any info or possible diag would be very helpfull.

Thanks,

Matt

[Guess-Works.com]

Are you sure you're actually getting the gear. There is a known problem with the later MPI boxes, where it's a complete arse to get into first... called baulking... I've heard of several instances of MPI's having to have complete new gearboxes under warrenty, and I know one person who's had two.

My theory is that the last MPI boxes must have been built on the cheap or somewhere the tooling for the gears has changed meaning that when at rest the dog teeth on 1st and 2nd are not aligning correctly... Have you tried double declutching to get it into first, or slowly lifting the clutch while moving the gear lever forward into gear ?

But, bottom line, if you have no 1st gear then it's engine out box off to investigate.. just incase it has stripped the teeth off the laygear or something like that..

Edited by GuessWorks, 04 March 2007 - 04:28 PM.

[Guess-Works.com]

Ohh... just thought... do you get reverse ok ?

[taffy1967]

I've read somewhere that towards the end, Rover weren't stocking all the spacers required to build Mini gearboxes (I forget the name of the actual part affected, but I think it might be the primary gear?). So the gearboxes weren't quite so tight.

Plus the long recommended 12 month/12,000 mile service interval and thin 10W/40 oil did no favours either.

[icklemini]

have seen a lot of spi and mpi boxes that appear to have been made of cheese!
- sadly they didnt build these as they should :s

[nev_payne]

mine has the same problem - 1st gear needs the clutch pumping 2/3 times then it'll select 1st - mainly on the 1st part of the journey before the engine has had time to simmer.

[Matt_Brum]

mine has the same problem - 1st gear needs the clutch pumping 2/3 times then it'll select 1st - mainly on the 1st part of the journey before the engine has had time to simmer.

Thanks guys, from the sound of it, it will need taking out!

2,3,4, and reverse are all ok, the linkage moves freely and moves into 1st with clutch down and engine running - feels as though its moving in the right direction.... Lift the clutch and nothing - no noise - no rattling - no vibration!

With 1st selected you can just rev the engine freely, not even any drag.

Stangest thing ive seen, if the weather holds will drop it out tonight (

Really cant be bothered though if im honest..... lol

[Matt_Brum]

Just another thought, do i need to pull the engine also.....

Sure ive had them out the bottom without pulling the lot?

[Matt_Brum]

Managed to get everything split and out in two hours, was quite pleased!

It better all go back togeter as easily as it came out

How much should i be looking to recon the box? Anyone had any experiences?

[Big_Adam]

Good Mr Guessworks can do a reconned box fairly cheap. Think it's about £100 (check his on site calculator).

When you put the gearbox back on tho, from vizard book it's said to be best to flip the bloke then put the gearbox on, rather than put the block on the gearbox. But if you got a winch then it's no so much a problem.

vv Guessworks website

http://www.guess-works.com/Gearbox/