4th to 3rd to 2nd

Being used driving modern cars and being able to lash up and DOWN the gears i'm having a bit of a problem with downward gear changes on my series 3.

It really only likes to go down into third when i'm practically at a standstill, which can be a bit awkward at roundabouts etc. When i try to change down at anything above a crawl, i get a bit of a crunch. If i'm crawling it changes no problems. Is this normal?

Do i just need to get used to using the torque to pull away if its still rolling, or does this sound like theres something wrong in the gearbox somewhere?

if its bin getting GL5 oil in it yer synchros might be fooked or you might just be trying too hard. try double de-clutching and see if that helps

Cheers Slob. Will do.

was just wondering, if it is a case of GL5 and knackered synchromesh, can i get by on double declutching or am i gonna be forced to do a job on the gear box?

personally i never bother with a clutch except fer starting orf and stopping
or really slow traffic

last time i did that was in me vauxhall Chevette - takes me back.

ha! ha! a vauxhall shove-it

..off a cliff....

i popped the box in me old escort doin clutchless changes it had done over 150,000miles and had never been apart so it had a right to let go

Hi,

Just read this post, think ive got the same problem, but when changing up from 1st to 2nd. I suspect the gearbox has had or got some bloody GL5 in it. So i guess its likely that the syncro's are knackred.

Is there anything thats getting damaged?
How hard is it to replace syncoro's?
Where do I buy the bits?
Thanks

BIOSBILL said:

Hi,

Just read this post, think ive got the same problem, but when changing up from 1st to 2nd. I suspect the gearbox has had or got some bloody GL5 in it. So i guess its likely that the syncro's are knackred.

Is there anything thats getting damaged?
How hard is it to replace syncoro's?
Where do I buy the bits?
Thanks

Click to expand...

if you have a series 11 or any series with a 11 box in it, then you only have synchro on 3rd and 4th.

HI, sorry forgot to put its a series 3, with a series 3 box in it.

Any idea where i can get the syncro's? can't find them in paddocks.
Is it a big job?

yer probably need to phone paddocks fer them and one could say its a big job. are you sure its not you trying to change gear too quick?

Synchromesh has to do a bit of work when you think about it.

It has to speed up or slow down every rotating part forward of the gear involved right up to and including the clutch centre-plate.

That's the gear, the laygear, the first motion shaft, and the clutch plate, and all the bearings.

Synchromesh is achieved by a metal-to-metal cone clutch in the speed gear hubs, and they wear out.

These are big tough gearboxes compared to the fairy-fart things they fit in tinny cars, so there's a bit of metal involved.

Learn to be patient changing gears. Take a little time changing UP to let the engine slow down, and speed the engine right up when you are changing DOWN the gears.

This will dramatically reduce the amount of work the synchromesh has to do, thus will reduce wear on it, and will reduce crunching noises which damages the dog-clutches of the speed-gears, and that damage will eventually cause it to jump out of gear. Gently and skilfully is the way to double the life of the gearbox.

CharlesY