1971 Austin Healey Sprite eek - crunching gears!

[Cookie]

Dear all

I could do with picking some brains! I'm having a few problems when changing gear in my 1971 Austin Healey Sprite. She's got a 1275 engine and as far as I am aware an original gearbox.

Pootling around town gear changes are reasonably smooth although sometimes there is a slight knock when I try to get her into first.

The problem kicks in after I've put my foot down! After a few miles of going above forty, she refuses to let me put her into any gear, after forcing her to go into first or second she crunched in protest and then is ok until after I have put my foot down & it all starts again.

I'm not aware of the gearbox oil being topped up & this is next on my list of things to investigate but I don't know where to start! How do I do this and what do I use?

Has anyone else had this problem - any other ideas?

Also I filled her up to the brim with petrol today only to find that the petrol tank leaks from a seam at the top, does anyone have any tips of how I could easily repair this, is there something I could apply to the outside of the tank or will it have to be drained, removed & repaired?

Finally, I'm trying to get hold of some sun visors - were these an original accessory - are they easy to fit & does anyone have any idea where I could get some from without breaking the bank?

Thanks in advance!

**************************************
...clueless but learning fast!

 

[longbridgehealey]

Hi, jump over to the Spridget Forum and ask these same questions - you'll get a lot of help!

 

[glemon]

Aw, lets not kick him out without at least giving him some direction.

Shifts OK, but then doesn't shift OK, although these are rather odd symptoms, maybe the hydraulic clutch has issues, and won't hold pressure, though not sure why you wouldn't have the issue all the time.

If after you get to the point it won't go into any gear if you try to ease it into first you get a nasty crunch I would suspect the hydraulics in the clutch, which means it may need a blead and or rebuild or new clutch master or slave cylinder.

As far as the gas leak, I would normally not suggest this, but it the leak is indeed at the very top you might try cleaning the area and applying some JB Weld (two part epoxy, very strong over the area, squeezing it down into the seam a little to make sure it seals. Or even some automotive silicone (kind that is supposed to resist oil or gas).

I would consider this a temporary fix, but if it works for a long time hey.

I would definitely keep an eye on it and also make sure you don't have leaks elsewhere, please note if the leak were anywhere else on the lower part of the tank I would not recommend this type of fix.

Lastly, as noted although Sprites are Austin Healeys (as much as big Healeys, and I have had both) the Sprite and Midget, or Spridget have their own foruam as noted where you might get more response to Sprite questions.

 

[Cookie]

Thanks both for your help and for the directions to the Spridget forum. Will post there also but think that bleeding and replacing the clutch fluid is a good start. Cheers!