No 2nd gear, help please!

[Pete B]

Not me thankfully, but a good friend with a '76 bus has just encountered gearbox problems. Basically all is fine apart from 2nd gear which apparently will not engage, makes lots of grinding noises and jumps out when trying to select. All other gears are fine so I dont suspect problems with the external shift mechanism, it must be internal to my way of thinking. Anyone else encountered or heard of this being a 'known' problem? Obviously the 'box needs to come out, but with exchange boxes being around the £700 mark, can anyone recomend a good gearbox man (cogbox I know of obviously) preferably around the Peterborough area, to repair said 'box?
Any help, suggestions, advice or opinions gratefully recieved. Also Mike asked if I would do the 'box swap, not a lot of spare time so anyone up for it or recomend someone local? Tim is always busy and another local guy is just too wierd and not trustworthy....
Thanks.

 

[creationblue]

Sounds like the mechanism to me, 2nd is the gear that suffers when the linkage starts to wear, try adjusting the plate at the base of the stick, thats the easiest to get to, but well worth changing the coupling at the box too. Good luck

Just

 

[Pete B]

Sounds like the mechanism to me, 2nd is the gear that suffers when the linkage starts to wear, try adjusting the plate at the base of the stick, thats the easiest to get to, but well worth changing the coupling at the box too. Good luck

Just

Just to clarify, are you suggesting that linkage wear/movement may actually be the reason for the problem???? I was working on the basis that with 4th and reverse working fine that the selector mechanism was ok and the fault being within the box.
Like I said, all opinions welcome, lets see what folk come up with!!
Thanks for that Just.

 

[creationblue]

My last bay's box was fine other than getting 2nd was troublesome esp changing up the box, changed the bushes and greased everything, then adjusted the selector and was all fine.

Obviously if everything was fine one minute then he heard a crunch and now its knackered thats a differend story :lol:

Just

 

[Loxy]

Sounds like the mechanism to me, 2nd is the gear that suffers when the linkage starts to wear, try adjusting the plate at the base of the stick, thats the easiest to get to, but well worth changing the coupling at the box too. Good luck

Just

Just to clarify, are you suggesting that linkage wear/movement may actually be the reason for the problem???? I was working on the basis that with 4th and reverse working fine that the selector mechanism was ok and the fault being within the box.
Like I said, all opinions welcome, lets see what folk come up with!!
Thanks for that Just.

I had 2nd gear problems on my old van that were fixed by replacing the bushes and coupling, got to be worth a try before spunking out on a new box

 

[Marvel]

You asked Fish?

 

[dubdubz]

are you sure Tim's too busy? have you rung him? if it's a quickish job I'm sure he'd fit your friend in............

I have some uber ramps that I bought from a LR guy that would help get under it.....welcome to borrow and seeing as I'm skint if you are really stuck I don't mind getting dirty!

 

[Pete B]

You asked Fish?

Sorry,new one on me!!!

 

[Araon]

Fish - hes a member but also a mod and thoroughly decent chap over on thelatebay.com

 

[Pete B]

Thanks for all the input folks, very helpful. Will try changing the coupling etc and see how adjustment goes then. Timewise it was gearbox replacement I was reluctant to commit to, this is a bit different! Thanks again.

 

[Pete B]

Have just got back from changing the coupling and general fiddling with my mates bus. Unfortunately the 2nd gear problem is still there, and now after having driven it myself , am pretty convinced it is an internal fault. 2nd just wont go in at all, just nasty grinding noises, so we are back to the question of recomendations for someone to do the 'box swap and ideally someone to repair the gearbox rather than go to the expense of a re-con unit (£700). As said before, looking around the Peterborough area, will give Tim a ring in the morning to see how busy he is. All opinions/thoughts welcome.
Thanks folks.

Oh, to back up my diagnosis, Mike has suggested that it was in fact instant and not a progressive problem.

 

[sparkywig]

I was about to suggest the shift plate, but if it was an instant problem, probably not that then... :lol:

 

[mattp]

Look up Bears motorsport, check out the website and you'll be supprised as it isn't 700 for a re-con, just get your box re-built.

The advice from the chap that build my last box (special) was that if it grinds it may just be syncros or bearings. If you get it sorted before something breaks off and shoots are out the box you'll be ok, otherwise risk having a scrap gearbox. From memory Bears charge 1/2 what your thinking for a re-con, Call them on 0121 742 2200

 

[Pete B]

Thanks very much for that, will give all the options to Mike and go from there.

 

[downsouth]

I can vouch for the gear coupling.
My gear change was like a wizards sleeve until we put an new one on.
5 minute job, and its good as new. GSF part number 71710 or 71710A for the uprated one.

good luck.

sorry, just saw the earlier post. ignore the advice re the coupling.

 

[mattp]

Pete,

some gearbox porn for you LOL :lol:

Just get it re-built and uprated, will give you something to look at under the van :mrgreen:

 

[ianscooby]

Pete,

some gearbox porn for you LOL :lol:

Just get it re-built and uprated, will give you something to look at under the van :mrgreen:

oooh gear box porn :lol: , just spent this evening laying on the drive putting my 6 rib in, fingers crossed

 

[mattp]

oooh gear box porn :lol: , just spent this evening laying on the drive putting my 6 rib in, fingers crossed

Did I mention this box has an evil twin brother -well, a re-built 6 rib, would have posted up a pic together but that would be just too much. Decisions, decisions, which to run in the bus this year :lol:

Good luck with your install