doctorlove
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- Sep 8, 2010
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I know there are generally similar posts around but just wanted to share my experience incase anyone else has similar problems. Lord knows, such tips helped me sort this problem.
For the years that I've had my bus I've accepted the 'porridge stirring' situation as a given for a bus that age. A couple of weeks ago it suddenly got more and more difficult to get find 1st or 2nd. Third and 4th gear were fine so my option at junctions was to sit for 2-3 minutes until I eventually found 1st, or burn the clutch trying to pull away in 3rd. Interestingly when I did eventually find 1st it went in easily enough and going from 1st to 2nd was easy once in that plane which let me know it was a problem with finding the gate (gear selection) rather than getting through the gate (major gearbox problem). Phew for working that out.
So working front to back:
- ensured gear shifter was secured down and shift plate hadn't moved. Check.
- checked front bushing on front shift rod - did seem a little worn so mental note to order new one.
- find it's not much more expensive to replace all bushings so ordered a kit.
- working further back, realised rear coupling (where rear shift rod meets rod going into gearbox) had a degree of play which didn't seem right. Therefore also ordered EMPI urethane coupling.
Having unbolted and taken off rear coupling (thankfully doesn't require engine out as I thought from reading Bentley manual - that's only if you want to actually remove the whole rear rod) it turns out that the socket in the rear coupling that the rear rod fits into has worked loose and was rotating within the cage of the coupling to a degree (see red arrow). Hence it would not have been rotating the rod in the gearbox cone and hence I couldn't find 1st and 2nd easily. Eureka.
Replaced new coupling (flimsy but will have to do seeing as i can't use my old metal cage), replaced front bushing of the rear selector rod, greased her all up and......
.....drives like a BMW. Well not quite but heavenly shifting compared to the past few years to the extent that my plans for an after-market short shifter are now on hold.
The lesson? Don't wait till it's too late. Change your bushings and think about replacing your rear-coupling. Could be the best thirty quid you spend this month.
For the years that I've had my bus I've accepted the 'porridge stirring' situation as a given for a bus that age. A couple of weeks ago it suddenly got more and more difficult to get find 1st or 2nd. Third and 4th gear were fine so my option at junctions was to sit for 2-3 minutes until I eventually found 1st, or burn the clutch trying to pull away in 3rd. Interestingly when I did eventually find 1st it went in easily enough and going from 1st to 2nd was easy once in that plane which let me know it was a problem with finding the gate (gear selection) rather than getting through the gate (major gearbox problem). Phew for working that out.
So working front to back:
- ensured gear shifter was secured down and shift plate hadn't moved. Check.
- checked front bushing on front shift rod - did seem a little worn so mental note to order new one.
- find it's not much more expensive to replace all bushings so ordered a kit.
- working further back, realised rear coupling (where rear shift rod meets rod going into gearbox) had a degree of play which didn't seem right. Therefore also ordered EMPI urethane coupling.
Having unbolted and taken off rear coupling (thankfully doesn't require engine out as I thought from reading Bentley manual - that's only if you want to actually remove the whole rear rod) it turns out that the socket in the rear coupling that the rear rod fits into has worked loose and was rotating within the cage of the coupling to a degree (see red arrow). Hence it would not have been rotating the rod in the gearbox cone and hence I couldn't find 1st and 2nd easily. Eureka.
Replaced new coupling (flimsy but will have to do seeing as i can't use my old metal cage), replaced front bushing of the rear selector rod, greased her all up and......
.....drives like a BMW. Well not quite but heavenly shifting compared to the past few years to the extent that my plans for an after-market short shifter are now on hold.
The lesson? Don't wait till it's too late. Change your bushings and think about replacing your rear-coupling. Could be the best thirty quid you spend this month.