minor worry?

Post by **gordiechris** » Fri Oct 13, 2006 5:06 pm

Hi, i have a tad problem, I left the car in a car park over night and instead of putting the hand brake on i decided to leave it in first gear.
When I returned in the morning to collect it, I put it into neuteral before turning the engine, once started the car wouldnt go into any gear, not a single one, just kept grinding!!

any suggestions??

help

Post by **alex_holden** » Fri Oct 13, 2006 5:15 pm

It sounds like the clutch isn't disengaging- the mechanism might need adjusting, or it's remotely possible the friction plate could have got stuck to the flywheel. I can't think of any reason why leaving the car in first gear could have caused that; I've always done it with all my cars and never had a problem.

Post by **crossword** » Sat Oct 14, 2006 12:14 pm

Hope it's sorted by now , if not , try engaging third with engine off , then get an assistant to rock the car backwards & forwards with the clutch down . This may free a stuck clutch plate , although I am surprised it stuck overnight . I did free a stuck clutch by starting the car in gear then driving with the clutch down but dont try this anywhere busy . Lastly this happened to my brothers car in our first incarnation driving morris minors & was a cracked clutch pressure plate .

Good Luck .

Post by **bmcecosse** » Sat Oct 14, 2006 5:26 pm

Friday 13th problem!! You will need to inspect the linkages to the clutch in case something has come loose. It's highly unlikely the plate will have stuck overnight - but then it was Friday 13th so I suppose anthing is possible.

Post by **gordiechris** » Sun Nov 05, 2006 4:48 pm

new news on my gear box, the car won't engage gear now and just grinds like you wouldn't belive. I thought maybe the halfshafts by see if the prop turns but nothing. what other tests are there that i can do to see what the problem is or should i just take the gearbox off and sort it this way?

Cheers

Post by **Kevin** » Tue Nov 07, 2006 4:01 pm

new news on my gear box, the car won't engage gear now and just grinds like you wouldn't belive.

Isnt that the same symptons you had over 3 weeks ago ?
Have you checked the linkage as suggested ?

Post by **rayofleamington** » Tue Nov 07, 2006 7:29 pm

grinding noise and problems to put the gear lever into gear means that there is torque transferring through the clutch - if you continue to try engaging gears with a dragging clutch the gearbox will eventually get damaged.
Suggestions above to check the clutch and linkages would be the first logical step.

Post by **gordiechris** » Tue Nov 07, 2006 10:23 pm

all links and rods have been checked and are fine, it seems that the problem lies in the gearbox itself. there is a rubber grommet on the bell housing so hopefully it is just the plate or something moved and i maybe be able to push it back?

who knows

Post by **bigginger** » Tue Nov 07, 2006 11:03 pm

Errrr - quite a few of us. You might see more through that hole, but don't pin your hopes on working through it.

Post by **Kevin** » Wed Nov 08, 2006 12:23 am

You might see more through that hole, but don't pin your hopes on working through it.

Both my head and hands are to big to work through it

Post by **bigginger** » Wed Nov 08, 2006 12:51 am

Quite

Post by **crossword** » Wed Nov 08, 2006 10:44 am

If the linkages & free play are correct , what you describe seems to be a clutch that does not disengage . My last suggestion would be to remove the spark plugs , noting which lead goes where , then either in first or reverse gear depending upon which way you are facing operate the starter with the clutch fully depressed . if the car moves the halfshafts are probably ok . If you are nervous of this, engage an assistant to press the clutch or block it down with a piece of wood , then turn the engine with the starting handle . If you do get movement of the car I suggest strip down the clutch .
This assumes the car moves freely with the handbrake released .