Thread: 1st Gear Frozen

Hi Lane

If the first gear cog was damaged you would be able to hear it. I think it could be the clutch that's dragging that stopping the first gear cogs from separating.

Top up your reservoir as it could be down a bit and check to see the clutch adjustments are set properly, ( if you need to, find someone that can show you ).

If all of that then checks out ok, have a look for oil coming out of the rear main oil seal and / or the front of the gearbox, as oil on the clutch plate can also cause drag.

The last thing now is to check that all the nuts and bolts holding the clutch mechanism onto the bell housing and the bell housing itself, are tight and the joint between the bell housing to the gearbox is solid with no oil seeping through.
.

Originally Posted by lane

Hi All,

I was going up a fairly easy sand hill and being the original motor I couldn't get up in 1st high. So I put the clutch in to change to neutral and discovered that my gearstick was locked in 1st. I mean really stuck. Pulled it, pushed it, wiggled it, rocked back and forth, guys on the radio saying "MOVE!" it would not budge. I'm not actually sure what I did (I just stepped, pushed, pulled and swore at everything within reach) but during one of my many movements I depressed the clutch and the gearstick slipped out like it never had had a problem. Hasn't happened again, yet. So I was wondering whether anyone else has had the same problem. I've got no idea what would cause the stick to freeze like that. I'm scared the same thing might happen in the middle of a tricky manoeuvre, could have an unhappy ending. It has a Series 2a gbox.

Any Ideas?

Thanks,
Lane


Oh, and if anyone in Perth has a Series 3 starter motor they don't need and want to dispose of I'd be grateful for a Pm.

I'm a bit confused as to when you operated the clutch. Did you have the clutch pedal depressed at all times when you were trying to move the gear stick?

It sounds a bit like when you stopped, the drive train was 'loaded' (terminology ??) and you were therefore unable to move the gear stick until you depressed the clutch and released the 'load'.

Please clarify.

Originally Posted by Xtreme

Did you have the clutch pedal depressed at all times when you were trying to move the gear stick?

Yep, I didn't try to disengage with the clutch out. And the gears were engaged, I could move forward a little. I tried to free any load by rocking the vehicle back and forth, rolling back etc.


First isn't damaged, fluids were all topped up, clutch mechanism is all tight I checked before I left and after it happened. And I'm pretty sure there's no oil on the clutch.


Thanks,
Lane

Ive had experience with 2 cases of this. In the first the interlock "ball" between the 1/2 selector rod and the R rod had worn, gone askew and locked the rod in the same manner as a the balls in a sprag clutch work. Sanding the rod filing the "tunnel" and replacing the "ball" fixed this.

The second was a much abused box and the syncro had essentially galled itself in position from the slop in the shafts, gears and the selection mechanism. Stripping the box and filing off the offending spurs on the shafts and the "galls" on the syncro got it working well enough for a hack box.

Originally Posted by Blknight.aus

Ive had experience with 2 cases of this. In the first the interlock "ball" between the 1/2 selector rod and the R rod had worn, gone askew and locked the rod in the same manner as a the balls in a sprag clutch work. Sanding the rod filing the "tunnel" and replacing the "ball" fixed this.

I've got no idea what you're talking about, but I'll have a look. Is this stuff the selector rods on top of the box, or inside?

Originally Posted by Blknight.aus

The second was a much abused box and the syncro had essentially galled itself in position from the slop in the shafts, gears and the selection mechanism. Stripping the box and filing off the offending spurs on the shafts and the "galls" on the syncro got it working well enough for a hack box.

It's a 2a box, no syncro for 1st or 2nd.


Thanks,
Lane

Originally Posted by lane

I've got no idea what you're talking about, but I'll have a look. Is this stuff the selector rods on top of the box, or inside?



It's a 2a box, no syncro for 1st or 2nd.


Thanks,
Lane

yes, with the tunnel cover off, take of the top plate on the box (carefull you dont drop any of the springs or balls into the box, much swearwordery ensues if you do) the interlock "balls" (they're more like overgrown steel tic-tacs) are between the rods.

The same principle could apply, if theres any wear on the output shaft that the gear slides along the gear could have jammed in place. I've never seen it happen in a II box but that doesnt mean it cant.

Thanks will have a look as soon as I can.

Lane