When I removed the selector linkage rods at the gearbox end some time ago, I remember manually moving the gear selector leavers on the gearbox. Before removing the box, I could engage all gears.

There are two leavers:- one moves the other up and down, this other moves left to right to select gears at different heights.

When I was manually moving the leavers, the left to right leaver locked in place. I assumed it had engaged into a gear, and would sort it’s self when refitted. I’m not so sure now.

I have since purchased a MK1 box, which has turned out to be a duffer, but it made me realise that I don’t need to swop sub frames to convert from a bottom shift to a top shift gearbox.

Having removed the slave cylinder from the MK2 box, I cleaned and fitted the MK1 clutch fork to the MK2 box last night.

I then compare the selector leavers. On the MK1 they both move freely, clicking in and out of gear, but the MK2 is frozen.

My question is…
Is it sounding like the MK2 box is stuck in gear? Is there anything I can do inside the box to check or free it off? I’ve not missed something like a reverse inhibitor or something silly (don’t think the MK2 UT box has one)?

Inside the gearbox there are 3 small pins that slide through the selector shafts and are designed to prevent you accidently engaging 2 gears at once. (4 and 5 on the diagram below)

If you've manually moved the external selector levers too far, then one, or some, of these pins may have fallen out, so it may be stuck in 2 gears at once.

You could check with a small magnet through the drain plug but if you don't find them that way, it doesn't mean they're not there somewhere.

There's also a set of detent spring, plunger and ball on each selector shaft, (7,8,9,15 and 16), designed to prevent the gear selected from jumping out. They should be accessible from outside the gearbox. Check that one, or some, of these hasn't stuck.

Dave.

Top post Dave!!!!! I'd go with selecting 2 gears


The selector leaver is no longer stuck :slayer: - nice and free now ...




























Well free of the gearbox :bang: Yes it went ping :bang:

Anyone want a std MK2 dif :devil:

Third time lucky (I hope)

Louie Bee said:

Top post Dave!!!!! I'd go with selecting 2 gears


The selector leaver is no longer stuck :slayer: - nice and free now ...

View attachment 49047

Well free of the gearbox :bang: Yes it went ping :bang:

Anyone want a std MK2 dif :devil:

Third time lucky (I hope)

Click to expand...

Hmmmmmm....guess you don't need to try the "small magnet through the drain plug then"

Dave.

Louie Bee said:

Well free of the gearbox :bang: Yes it went ping :bang:

Click to expand...

Top effort Louie!
You must have a lot of spare parts now, and probably a good understanding of the inner workings of the gearbox.

For the shift linkage, I guess you'll make up some new links with rod-ends or spherical bearings/rose joints, to avoid that clanking feeling. Dunc showed one way (on his thread), though I think it's easier to use rod-ends (they look like miniature steering rack-ends).

Though, knowing you, you've already got brand-new links ready and waiting. The three-balljoint 'plate' on the steering rack-mounted bellcrank tends to get slack too. I'm not sure what the best replacement option is for that. I made up something with three rose-joints, but it didn't swivel far enough for the full throw of the lever. I ended up using a good-condition original one.

-Alex

I know that there are 2 10mm bolts to undo before the bellhousing will part more than an inch from the main gear housing took ages to work out why it was stuck.

don't know if the bits that flew across the garage were already out of place, but it won't be going back on the car.

For now I have put it to one side and am going to collect another gearbox tonight all being well