Gearbox stuck in 5th gear

[Steve A]

I also finally got round to fitting my shortshift after what must be years ,
All went really well I took it for a spin to try it out and I was very impressed with the feel, it was like I've just fitted a new gear box
Then I went into 5th and it won't come out I wasn't too far from home and managed to get it back.
I think I need to adjust the throw as clearly descibed in the instructions, but you know how it is, I was too eager
I'll just go and consult my manual

[Steve A]

Still stuck in 5th
With the gear selector off and the selector arms on the right, I take it, if you pull the shaft and rotate it you have 1st and 2nd, if you rotate it as is, 3rd and 4th,
if you push it in 5th and reverse, without it being possible to go from 5th to reverse?
So if this is all correct in the way it moves am I just unlucky and somethings gone tits up with my gear box?
As it is still stuck in 5th I need to get it back into neutral, but looking at the orifice what should it look like to be in neutral?
If I can get it back into neutral I can stick the housing back on and try again.
When I remove the selector housing for the first time I removed the bolt at the top center mistaking it for a securing bolt, I realise that
this retains a sprung loaded cam which I think I have reset OK with the housing off.
Please help I don't want to miss Malvern

[John_W]

Steve,
Being stuck in 5th is sometimes caused by a nut on the end of the gearbox internals coming undone. I haven't searched the forum for references, but Andrew Ennis had this and possibly Specky?

I hope it's not that, but as you say you might be unlucky and have incurred this problem completely coincidentally and unrelated to the short-shift.

John

[Steve A]

Yes I've know all about that fault , I can't believe I could be so unlucky
If i can maybe get it out of 5th using a large screwdriver in the orifice that would discount that fault, but the trouble is
what dose neutral look like through the orifice?

[rip]

G UK's S2 had this problem at Lotus' 60th at Hethel in '08. His issue was in the selector box & once he got used to it, releasing was a quick job.

I'm not sure what either the quick fix or proper solutions were, but I'm sure G UK will help if you PM him.

[DeeAitch]

With the gear selector off and the selector arms on the right, I take it, if you pull the shaft and rotate it you have 1st and 2nd, if you rotate it as is, 3rd and 4th,
if you push it in 5th and reverse, without it being possible to go from 5th to reverse?

That's correct.

As it is still stuck in 5th I need to get it back into neutral, but looking at the orifice what should it look like to be in neutral?
If I can get it back into neutral I can stick the housing back on and try again.

The slots should all line up in the centre of the aperture - see pic attached

When I remove the selector housing for the first time I removed the bolt at the top center mistaking it for a securing bolt, I realise that this retains a sprung loaded cam which I think I have reset OK with the housing off.

Can you get it out of 5th with the engine off? If so then it might be the clutch needing adjustment. Can't help thinking it might be linked to the top centre bolt tho' - I take it that is the socket head one you refer to?
This locates the reverse interlock. It stops you going from 5th to reverse so if it is jammed then I guess it might stop you coming out of 5th. I'll give it a try later but for now here's some pics.

[Steve A]

Thanks for the support lads, the pictures are just what I need.

Can't help thinking it might be linked to the top centre bolt tho'

Yes I had that feeling when I took the bolt out, ah I think that looks like some kind of retainer.
So when I took the housing back off I went straight to it, but it's difficult to see how it should line up with the bolt with the selector shaft covering it
do I need to strip it down, what a pain at the moment you can't go from 5th to reverse so it looks ok but can't be certain.
I will go back out and see if I can get the car into neutral, this will be a big step in the right direction.

[DeeAitch]

:
Yes I had that feeling when I took the bolt out, ah I think that looks like some kind of retainer.
So when I took the housing back off I went straight to it, but it's difficult to see how it should line up with the bolt with the selector shaft covering it
do I need to strip it down, what a pain at the moment you can't go from 5th to reverse so it looks ok but can't be certain.

I'll check later but I think the bolt - that's the one with the cap head - is used as a stop, it doesn't actually connect to the reverse interlock.
Does the selector box go straight from Reverse to 5th OK?

[Steve A]

The first thing I did was pop it back into neutral, no problem
Then happy with what the selector was doing I replaced it and manually selected each gear in turn.
All was fine until I went into 5th where it got stuck ,I then loosened the central bolt and it came out of 5th
I then put it back in 5th where it got stuck again
So it would seem that the problem is all about setting up the small cam and how to do it.
Dose anyone have a picture showing the profile of the cam? I trying to get my head round how it works.
Before I replaced the housing if you pushed the selector shaft in and rotated you would get an audible click for both reverse and 5th, which
is what I'd expect
The main thing is the gearbox is ok
I've got to go to work now (12hours shifts )but will be viewing the forum when I can

[Specky]

When mine let go I had three faults...

Jammed selector (Replaced),

When the selector jammed.... I slammed the gearsick in disgust and snapped the plastic circlip mount on the gear change cable.(Temp repair undertaken)...(Must post that repair sometime)

and finally the gearbox nut has losened to top it off and jammed it thatway as well.......(Retorqued)

I'm gonna split this topic as not to digress from DH thread.

TTFN

[DeeAitch]

Mine only clicks in one direction - into 5th. At least it did until I took out the bolt in question. Now it clicks going into reverse
The bolt is not a stock cap screw - it is a special purpose bolt which acts as a stop. It stops the interlock collar thingy from rotating
The interlock collar thingy is under tension from a type of clock spring on the interlock shaft - you can see it in the pic above. This looks like a compression spring in the pic but is in fact a combined rotary tension and axial compression spring - well I know what I mean
This spring both loads up in compression and rotates the interlock collar - at least it does if the bolt is in. Mine just spins now!
I'll try to get some more pics tomorrow.
Looks like you will need to dismantle the selector box to get the interlock collar in the correct position again - not too difficult, just one roll pin to knock out and then it all falls apart.
Now why didn't I take a pic before I started

[HJ2]

A Horror story with a happy ending
Share some of the thoughts you had in the beginning (is there a curse filter on the forum?)

[Steve A]

So it's just a case of simply popping the said bolt back in, and getting the cam in the correct position
ah but what is the correct position?
So I can get it so it only clicks going into 5th that would be a good sign?
Well it's easy enough to pop it back onto the gearbox and try.
The housing looks straight forward to strip down if need be.
It will be Saturday afternoon before I get the chance to look at it again.
Yes I did have a little curse WTF springs to mind

[HJ2]

Heh heh..
I had a little WTF as i ruined my window switch (i left the cable on how dumb can you be...)
I hear you talk about a red bolthead? In the military a red bolt means not to remove it

Anyway, about the position of the bolt: Perhaps anyone who is installing Dave's shortshift @ the moment is willing to send a picture of perform a measurement for you!

Good luck


Henk-Jan

[DeeAitch]

Anyway, about the position of the bolt: Perhaps anyone who is installing Dave's shortshift @ the moment is willing to send a picture of perform a measurement for you!

Good luck


Henk-Jan

The bolt simply screws in as far as it will go - a touch of locktite would be advisable
Pic in my post above was taken before I messed with it.
Strange that the pic of the aperture has gone AWOL tho'

Edit:
I've just replicated the problem. Removing the said cap head bolt allowed the interlock collar to rotate out of position. I then re inserted the bolt and the mech locks in 5th - potentially more serious is that it also locks in reverse although I doubt if Steve got that far, not being able to get out of 5th!

[Steve A]

potentially more serious is that it also locks in reverse although I doubt if Steve got that far, not being able to get out of 5th!

But I had to go into reverse to get off the drive , then off I went until I went into 5th etc
Can you post the picture back on, I think I will be stripping my housing down tomorrow
With the shaft out is it obvious how the cam is set up with the "stop bolt" ?
Thanks for you help and guidance

[DeeAitch]

potentially more serious is that it also locks in reverse although I doubt if Steve got that far, not being able to get out of 5th!

But I had to go into reverse to get off the drive , then off I went until I went into 5th etc
Can you post the picture back on, I think I will be stripping my housing down tomorrow
With the shaft out is it obvious how the cam is set up with the "stop bolt" ?
Thanks for you help and guidance

Should be clear with the previous pic - let me know if you need a side on view and I'll strip the little blighter out.

Here's the pics again

[Steve A]

Thanks for that, I'm just off of nights so I'm off to bed for a few hours,

let me know if you need a side on view and I'll strip the little blighter out.

a side on view would be handy I suppose

[Steve A]

I reset the cam put it all back together and now all is well
Thanks for your help DeeAitch, you were a big help,it only took about 20 minutes

Mine only clicks in one direction

That was key to knowing I had the cam in the right place along with your photo.
I didn't even need to remove the selector shaft, the cam had a witness mark which also helped

[DeeAitch]

:-D I reset the cam put it all back together and now all is well
Thanks for your help DeeAitch, you were a big help,it only took about 20 minutes

Mine only clicks in one direction

That was key to knowing I had the cam in the right place along with your photo.
I didn't even need to remove the selector shaft, the cam had a witness mark which also helped

Glad you got it sorted Steve - hope it was worth all the agro
Me thinks a small addendum to the install instructions might be in order