Unable to select a gear

[Specky]

The story so far...

The gear stick won't move...Jammed solid

When the cables are disconected at the gearbox... The run is fine

When trying to operate the selector by hand... no joy ... Well 95% of the time...

My first question is how do you remove the selector...(I have no book at the moment)

I've removed the clutch mount and cable...

disconected the gear cables...

undone the five mounting bolts...

What do I do next?

My second question... can you easily remove the gearbox in situ...If it all goes Pete Tong

TTFN

[Nige]

selector box removes from the top inside the engine bay, no need to remove the gearbox,

Instructions for fitting AB short shift http://www.abmotosport.com/Short%20shift%20fit.htm give a basic outline but section FF12 of the manual helps. Also pictures on the AB site are helpful as there are before and after shots. As you don't have access to a manual at the moment I'll summarise what FF12 says (if I could cut out sections of the manual I'd send it):

Remove cables, release four screws securing housing and remove complete selector assembly and gasket.

Mine came out exactly like that, without difficulty, may be that there is a bead of sealant instead of a gasket still holding the housing onto the gearbox?

Removing the gearbox is a fairly big job as so much else needs to be disconnected.

Suggest you remove selector box and see if problem is in there first (sounds like it may be given difficulty in selecting gears with selector mechanism and difficulty in removing selector). If not this then try removing gearstick end from inside the car although if it all moves ok with the change cable disconnected from the gearbox I think it unlikely the problem is with the gearstick or cables

[Specky]

It's four mounting bolts... the other two hold the selector together...

It was just sticktion holding the selector on...

so just to recap:-

This write up is for when the gear stick is solid...Unable to select any gear...Not a broken or loose cable...

To remove the Gearbox selector...

Remove air intake pipe that enters the carb

Remove the Air filter box

Disconect the gear cables

Now try the gearstick... it should be loose..

Now try to move the selector manually at the gearbox...chances are it's still tight...

Remove the three mounting bolts on the clucth cable mounting plate

Disconect the clutch cable

Remove the four mounting bolts on the selector housing

Man up... and pull off the housing...

Tear the gasket.... Doh

I'll take some pics later and see how it the task developes... please don't be the gear box...


TTFN

[Specky]

Cheers Nige,

You must have posted that as I started to write...

I'm removing the selector off the N/A to fit on to the SE

And hope that cures the problem

TTFN

[Monty]

Check to make sure there`s oil in the box

[Specky]

Check to make sure there`s oil in the box

How much oil goes in the gearbox...

Cos I'm thinking of draining it .....and filling through the selector hole which I've now created in the top of the gearbox...(No fill plug)

TTFN

[RayD]

...

[Specky]

Cheers...

TTFN

[Jackonicko]

Are you physically in Benson today Specky, or Swindon? I could drop my workshop manual over if you're in Benson. Otherwise I might get my assistant editor (who lives in Swindon) to pick it up tomorrow.

[dapinky]

Dave,

I hope (for your sake!) that the selector fixes the problem.

However (call me a pessimistic cynic if you like - but we all know that often = 'realist') if you need to drop the gearbox, it comes out the bottom of the car, so there is plenty to move first!

Alternatively, it will come out of the top if still attached to the engine.

It certainly aint a 'Ford Cortina' 2 hour job to change one!!!!

[Specky]

Update...

Went back to Benson today...

Got Manual...

Removed Selector....

It's Serviceable...

Gearbox full of lovely clean oil..

The gearbox has gone to the dogs...Literally

I can manually select any gear I want, but once reassembled it stays in that gear...

Boroscoped the engine and there is evidence of slight damage to the selector cogs...

More bad news though... On removing the selector hidden underneath I have a 1" crack in the Gearbox... and it doesn't look resent...I'll NDT the gearbox and see how far the crack goes...(Maybe)

So where to go next... Hethel Hangs in the balance..

Anyone got a LAB Gearbox for sale...

TTFN

[chris.t]

sorry to hear this Dave, is there a possibility that you could canabalise your other car? Have you contacted Nige re that fella i was telling you about?

[Specky]

sorry to hear this Dave, is there a possibility that you could canabalise your other car? Have you contacted Nige re that fella i was telling you about?

In theory...yes

But the final drive ratio is different... So it would mean a lot of work...

Not yet talked to Nige

TTFN

[Monty]

Update...

Went back to Benson today...

Got Manual...

Removed Selector....

It's Serviceable...

Gearbox full of lovely clean oil..

The gearbox has gone to the dogs...Literally

I can manually select any gear I want, but once reassembled it stays in that gear...

Boroscoped the engine and there is evidence of slight damage to the selector cogs...

More bad news though... On removing the selector hidden underneath I have a 1" crack in the Gearbox... and it doesn't look resent...I'll NDT the gearbox and see how far the crack goes...(Maybe)

So where to go next... Hethel Hangs in the balance..

Anyone got a LAB Gearbox for sale...

TTFN

Dave, thats bad news

and there was a gearbox that just sold the other day on ebay

Get an add in the for wanted section, actually i`m not sure if Dico`s got a spare

[Sy V]

I have a gearbox crated and sat in my garage awaiting collection by Algirdas prior to shipping over to the States. I believe it was bought as a spare. If he agrees to release it, it's game on (if you'll excuse the phraseology).

[Nige]

I have asked that we seek to get a definitive 'will they fit an Elan or not' answer on the supply of gearboxes that we were informed of at Donington this year.

[Specky]

I have asked that we seek to get a definitive 'will they fit an Elan or not' answer on the supply of gearboxes that we were informed of at Donington this year.

Cheers Nige...

Just got back from my latest short notice travels...

to find you're one step a head... especially as I hadn't even asked the question...

Lets hope it's a winner...

TTFN

[Specky]

Can anyone recomend a Garage Swindon way to do such a job...

TTFN

[Sy V]

Dave

You have PM, but it's not good news.

Sy

[G UK]

Dave,

I've now (temporarily) fixed my 5th Gear problems from Hethel that we discussed. It turned out to be the selector box, the block that stops you from coming straight down from 5th to Reverse appears to have broken and instead locks the selector in 5th in the forward back direction. I've just disconnected the block for now which allows me to use 5th as long as I'm careful about not selecting Reverse when changing down.

In short my problems probably not related to yours as we discussed.