Series 2a gearbox not engaging when engine is running

Hi all,
I’ve been restoring my Landrover series 2 for a few months now and I have finally fired the engine up after who knows how long it’s been sitting prior to my ownership. the engine is so incredibly smooth. I could balance a 2p coin on it whilst it idles. My new problem is the gearbox....
I have fitted a new clutch master and slave cylinder and bled the system. I have tried adjusting the clutch pedal itself and the pivot arm on the slave cylinder cylinder, hoping I could get the b*****d in gear but no luck.

So what is happening? When the engine is off, all gears will select very freely and normally. But when the engine turns on, the gear stick physically won’t engage Any gears whatsoever and there is a LOT of grinding noises when trying. I’d rather not destroy anything inside the casing so after these horrific noises I decided to stop and ask for advice from someone whom has more experience.
When I pull the (red) stick from high or low to the middle, I can get the gear stick into a gear no problem but then lifting the clutch simply will not do anything. If I then try to engage high or low ratio after the gearstick is in a gear, it crunches like before and doesn’t allow me to go in gear.

One more thing that may or may not help... if it’s in high or low and the gears don’t slow in at all, if I try 3rd or 4th, it doesn’t slot into the gear but it does ever so slightly push the car. So it sounds like something is happening in there.

Any help will be so much greatly appreciated

-akomso1

If its grinding then the clutch is not clearing, it is quite common to extend the slave push rod by an inch or so.
I think over the years there have been different slaves, some with spacers and some without, think there are also slightly different slave mounting brackets, then add in a few owners and who knows what has been fitted?

Is the release bearing the large push type which is part of the gearbox? if so have you had it apart?

lynall said:

If its grinding then the clutch is not clearing, it is quite common to extend the slave push rod by an inch or so.
I think over the years there have been different slaves, some with spacers and some without, think there are also slightly different slave mounting brackets, then add in a few owners and who knows what has been fitted?

Is the release bearing the large push type which is part of the gearbox? if so have you had it apart?

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I believe it is yes. I haven’t had it apart as it moved nice and smooth when the whole gearbox was out of the car. I made sure it moved when the slave push rod pivots before I put the gearbox in the car.

Been ages since i looked at a 2a clutch, but isn't there something that can be put back together the wrong way around, meaning the clutch doesn't work? Or am i thinking about another car.. Clutch plate maybe?

kermit_rr said:

Been ages since i looked at a 2a clutch, but isn't there something that can be put back together the wrong way around, meaning the clutch doesn't work? Or am i thinking about another car.. Clutch plate maybe?

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You are thinking of the splined shaft that moves the release bearing, but as the op has not had it apart, and it worked before that should still be good

Sounds to me like the center plate is stuck to the fly wheel, i get exactly the same with my classic car, some times you can get a way with engine off put it in gear clutch down and try and start it with foot on brake and it will unstick, i normally have to drop the box and undo clutch cover and use a wall scraper to unfree it

brianp38dse said:

Sounds to me like the center plate is stuck to the fly wheel, i get exactly the same with my classic car, some times you can get a way with engine off put it in gear clutch down and try and start it with foot on brake and it will unstick, i normally have to drop the box and undo clutch cover and use a wall scraper to unfree it

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Thank you very much! I’ll try this tomorrow. I’ll keep y’all posted if it works or not.

Any up date on your clutch problem.

brianp38dse said:

Any up date on your clutch problem.

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My apologies for the late response. Life got in the way for a hot minute.
IT WORKED A TREAT!!! Thank you very much for the advice. The centre plate must’ve been stuck to the flywheel as you said. much appreciated and hope it helps anyone else in the same situation

Good result an easy fix, glad it worked