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locked in first gear

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longbridgehealey

longbridgehealey

Obi Wan
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So I parked the Bugeye, went into a store for about 15 minutes, came back out and it was locked in first gear. I was parked up against a traffic barrier, so I couldn't drive forward. I let it sit about another fifteen minutes and it slid right out of first, and shifted fine after that. Resivoir is full of fluid, any ideas??

Thanks,
Larry
 
First question I would ask of you is, does this vehicle ever give you a slight grinding of the gears first thing in the morning or first drive after sitting for a bit?

If the clutch master seals are weak, you will get bypass, and often before complete failure occurs, one or two strokes will get the weakened seal lips to seat and it all works fine.

Did you actually start the car with the clutch in while jammed in first? Did it try to load into the driveline forward a bit?

I wouldn't think it would be a heat-soak issue locking the shift rails, but you never know.
 
No, there has been no noticable grinding at first start up or when not having run for awhile.

Yes, I was in first with clutch in when I started the car. I was so surprised that it wouldn't release from first that I can't say whether it tried to load into the driveline or not.

Again, after about fifteen minutes more (30 total) it released, and I drove home (10 miles) with no problem.
 
Well, MD isn't undergoing a heat wave....high of 58, low of 34, so heat in the trans should not be it.
My bet is hydraulics. Master bypassing. Often (but not always) it will be damp at the pedal pushrod end. Might be a good idea to have a look-see with a torch (flashing light). I have experienced disc momentarily locking to pressure plate/flywheel...such that if the car is on a slight grade, depress clutch, won't come out of gear....I start it with clutch in, and it "pops" lightly and off we go. Usually oily residue on facings of driven plate (disc). If you park it inside tonight, in neutral, start it in the morning, THEN depress clutch and try a synchronized gear first, see if it goes in. If it does, not sticking driven plate.
 
Aye, only thing I can think of is oil burnt on pressure plate that caused it to stick a bit.

For awile, park where you can roll it in gear a bit to break it loose.

Also see how much if any oil you have coming from the tranny/rear engine area.
 
Larry
Did you try pulling it out of 1st when the engine was turned off or only when it was running?
BillM
 
Tried it both when running and with engine off..
 
Thanks Jack and TOC, I'll park it in neutral in the garage toight and see what happens. And I'll park it for awhile where I have some rocking or pushing room.

We just put this 1275 and ribbed case into the Bugeye last month, and it seems that I'll be ironing out wrinkles for most of the fall or winter. My goal is to have her as perfect as possible by the spring??

Thanks all,
Larry
 
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