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73 Midget Transmission stuck in first gear
- Thread starter jbowlby
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regularman
Yoda
Offline
YES! jack it up and have someone work the shifter while you rock the raised tire back and forth. I have seen this work on several types of LBC with the A series. Then dont put it back in first or reverse or it might stay there again. Drive it in second until you can pull the transmission and check it out. You have to do this to find the problem, sorry.
zimmy
Jedi Knight
Offline
mine stuck in reverse once, i reved the engine for a while and cussed and it came loose....
mine usually it sticks in neutral and i have to wiggle the shifter while i give it some gas....
i have my gearbox out right now, but i dont think ive fixed it yet..whatta pain........zimmmmy
mine usually it sticks in neutral and i have to wiggle the shifter while i give it some gas....
i have my gearbox out right now, but i dont think ive fixed it yet..whatta pain........zimmmmy
Baz
Yoda
Offline
This happened to me last fall.
I pumped the clutch numerous times, swore at it, and only used 2nd & 4th.
I drained the (transmission) oil, replaced it and it was fine.
Not happy with the result, I'm pulling the tran right now as it's obviously not right.
I figured a bad synchro shard (there was brass fillings in the oil) got caught somewhere and it loosened up with some violent movement.
I pumped the clutch numerous times, swore at it, and only used 2nd & 4th.
I drained the (transmission) oil, replaced it and it was fine.
Not happy with the result, I'm pulling the tran right now as it's obviously not right.
I figured a bad synchro shard (there was brass fillings in the oil) got caught somewhere and it loosened up with some violent movement.
Dug
Jedi Trainee
Offline
Jbowlby,
It's going to have to come out no doubt about that. But a way you will be able to un-stick it is to drain the oil in the gearbox and remover the side cover (careful with the springs and detents). Once you have the side open you will be able to lever the shift fork back with a good size screwdriver or flat bar. You will be able to tell the fork that's giving you the trouble by having someone try and shift it. It will "pop" back out of gear so easy that you'll be tempted to "try it again in first once everything is buttoned back up. So you will get to do it all again if you do. You’re looking at too much play in either the shift fork and or the slider assembly for first. There is too much clearance and the detents are coming out to far. That’s not the only thing but what it’s likely to be.
It's going to have to come out no doubt about that. But a way you will be able to un-stick it is to drain the oil in the gearbox and remover the side cover (careful with the springs and detents). Once you have the side open you will be able to lever the shift fork back with a good size screwdriver or flat bar. You will be able to tell the fork that's giving you the trouble by having someone try and shift it. It will "pop" back out of gear so easy that you'll be tempted to "try it again in first once everything is buttoned back up. So you will get to do it all again if you do. You’re looking at too much play in either the shift fork and or the slider assembly for first. There is too much clearance and the detents are coming out to far. That’s not the only thing but what it’s likely to be.
bugimike
Yoda
Offline
The trany is full when oil juuussst starts to overflow out of the filler! Balky shifting as described would lead me to check shift fork set-screws for tightness and position (are they properly seated!) first (this can be checked in the car through the side cover)! I would also not overlook checking the set-screws in the shifter housing rod as that can also affect shifting! Other than that, worn or damaged detents and/or bearings would cause the jamming!
Sopwith_Camel
Jedi Knight
Offline
when this happend to my 72 my guy who built the tranny put a washer in that would keep it from going so far forward.
steve
steve
Dug
Jedi Trainee
Offline
Washers, shims "or" spacers are what ends up happening to take up the end float after the parts that are bad are replaced.
Checking wear on the detents that place the shift forks into set positions, detents and springs in the slider assemblies and the shift fork clearances are all part of rebuilding process.
Washers, shims and spacers can also be apart of shoddy repair if worn parts that are borderline bad, are again reused. So washers, shims and spacers have duel usage. I've seen allot of interesting stuff over the years,talked with some "mature" mechanics that worked on these gearboxes at dealerships and some of the "tricks". Funny stuff....
Checking wear on the detents that place the shift forks into set positions, detents and springs in the slider assemblies and the shift fork clearances are all part of rebuilding process.
Washers, shims and spacers can also be apart of shoddy repair if worn parts that are borderline bad, are again reused. So washers, shims and spacers have duel usage. I've seen allot of interesting stuff over the years,talked with some "mature" mechanics that worked on these gearboxes at dealerships and some of the "tricks". Funny stuff....
oldguysrule
Freshman Member
Offline
If you still have the1275 engine I have a spare trans I would like to get rid of. It shifts well and never had problems when it was in the car.
Jim
Jim
Dug
Jedi Trainee
Offline
Zimmy,
Your gearbox has been "fettled" with and it shifted fine before? and it's out of the car now? Then I'd re-look at the detents and springs of the selector rods. The Clymer sprite & midget 1958-1979 shop manual with the blue 74'on the cover shows (real pictures) the placement of all the detents and springs very well. If you have this book re-visit it and if not I might be able to copy and pdf the pages to you.
Hey, you list Love/Hate on your web page! That was a good band for their short time!
"Dug"
Your gearbox has been "fettled" with and it shifted fine before? and it's out of the car now? Then I'd re-look at the detents and springs of the selector rods. The Clymer sprite & midget 1958-1979 shop manual with the blue 74'on the cover shows (real pictures) the placement of all the detents and springs very well. If you have this book re-visit it and if not I might be able to copy and pdf the pages to you.
Hey, you list Love/Hate on your web page! That was a good band for their short time!
"Dug"
zimmy
Jedi Knight
Offline
figures! i have the haynes!
i also have the complete
official 1275cc sprite-midget 1967-74
on CD....
could i get a copy of the pages u have?
and also...love/hate isnt gone!
they just did a few shows........
check out Crooked X...14 yr olds!
superfragilistic ........zimmmmy
i also have the complete
official 1275cc sprite-midget 1967-74
on CD....
could i get a copy of the pages u have?
and also...love/hate isnt gone!
they just did a few shows........
check out Crooked X...14 yr olds!
superfragilistic ........zimmmmy