Author Topic: Gearbox problems?  (Read 2437 times)

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polenglish126

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Gearbox problems?
« on: November 12, 2017, 07:43:19 PM »
I have just bought a maluch 126 and drove it back 100 miles without a glitch then the gearbox would not engage in any gear just made a weird grinding noise instead but when the engine not running it goes into the gears or feels like it does could this be the clutch or gear linkage problems. Please any advice much appreciated.

drcdb15

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Re: Gearbox problems?
« Reply #1 on: November 12, 2017, 09:18:32 PM »
If the previous owner just fitted a new clutch cable, it could be that either the cable is slipping or stretching. First thing to look at is the cable adjustment and check that when you(r assistant) press(es) the clutch pedal the clutch lever is actually moving. If you drove that far at first without any gear change problems I would look at the cable adjustment before worrying about the gear linkage.

If you can select the gears when the engine is not running then the gear linkage itself is probably OK, but check anyway that the bolts holding the gear linkage adjustment in place (on the side of the central tunnel about level with the front of the driver's seat) are tight. If they are loose, then the linkage adjustment will be changing every time you move the gear lever. 

polenglish126

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Re: Gearbox problems?
« Reply #2 on: November 12, 2017, 09:28:13 PM »
It would be great if it was just the clutch cable save me a lot of hassle is it easy to get to? Thank you for your help I appreciate it .

drcdb15

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Re: Gearbox problems?
« Reply #3 on: November 13, 2017, 11:33:35 AM »
As I said, you will need an assistant first to see what the cable is actually doing at the clutch end while you press the clutch pedal down. It *is* possible for one person to do this check but it's MUCH easier and faster with two.

If it's just a case of readjusting the cable, then it's easily done in the engine bay. Again, 2 people makes the job fairly straightforward.  If the cable is broken or mis-routed somewhere, then it's not a difficult job to replace, but it IS fiddly and time-consuming. Most of the time is taken in removing trim and covers, and actually finding a way that works for you to get your head and hands up under the steering wheel to reach the front cable end, and to route the replacement cable into place.

In my experience you should allow a whole day to change this cable if you are not experienced in this sort of thing. It is NOT a ten minutes job! It's one of those jobs that, if everything goes well and there's no corrosion or blockage and the wire doesn't kink and everything lines up properly first time, could take as little as an hour, 2 at most. But if anything goes wrong it tends to grow horns and one fault leads to another...

For a garage to do it, I would expect no more than 1 hour of labour charge.

polenglish126

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Re: Gearbox problems?
« Reply #4 on: November 13, 2017, 02:41:44 PM »
So today when it was chucking it down with rain i checked both ends of the clutch cable the one at the pedal I slightly tightened up and the other on the gearbox i adjusted about five mil to make it tighter. The clutch mechanism is working as I had my partner push down on the clutch as I was under the car and it was moving backwards and forwards. I also checked the gear linkage one of the nuts was very easy to undo and the other slightly harder. I took it off completely and looked at it closely it looked slightly bent at each end so i have straightened it in my vice and cleaned it up a bit it is it supposed to be slightly angled or completely straight? I also took out the nut for the gearbox oil and checked if it had any in it I would say there was about three quarters of a litre there and was a dark grey colour. I will put new oil in and put the gear linkage back and see what happens if it still doesnt work I think I will have to take out the gearbox and look inside. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks Marc.