second gear issues

[pittaway]

HI All,

 

over the weekend i replaced the release bearing on my 1950 plymouth sd - previous post about it breaking..

 

i topped the gearbox with oil when it was out and gave it a coat of paint, didn't disturb much else. underneath the car all the linkages stayed where there were and it all seemed fine.

 

when the release bearing collapsed i tried to get it into a gear to get off the main road (uk version of highway). this made a few crunching noises but was needed to get safe.

 

for some reason now its back together I'm having a real hard time getting the gearbox to engage second gear, it crunches really bad ( very similar to putting it in first too fast / no syncro), sometimes i can force it in, but it pops out or i have to hold it in, even when the car is not running it doesn't  feel fully engaged. i have backed the clutch adjustment right the way off, and it makes no different, it feels very much a linkage/ gearbox issue. im thinking two things - the gears may have been damaged trying to get the car to safety? or  the linkage might now need some adjustment .... i don't have much information here in the uk regarding adjustment of the linkage setup so wondering if anyone had any guidance?

 

 

any help or input would be most appreciated. its my birthday tomorrow and really wanted to go for a drive!

[pittaway]

 

Bit of an update, i took all the linkages off and tried to push it by hand into second gear on the gearbox selector arm, when i put it into other gears it travels alot further, when i try for second it doesnt go all the way, seems the fault could be inside the gearbox selector area?

[pittaway]

HI all

 

any advice with this?

[kevin h P15]

I will try...

 

I am confused by the 'no synchros' comment.  Does this mean you get gear clash, grinding, when shifting into 2nd?  Or just difficult to get into gear.

 

I'll address the second as I had similar troubles gettinginto reverse after replacing the clutch in my '47.

 

The other lever sets the range.  This pulls a tab  into the R-1 rail when gear handle is pulled towards the steering wheel.  There are several springs, including one in the transmission if I recall, that pulls the tab back into the 2-3 rail.  If tab doesn't make it, the gear selector will hang up.  

 

Try backing off the double nut on the range selector a few turns or just remove the linkage at the transmission.  Then try entering 2nd.  There may be insufficient length or binding. The rod lengths or positions may have drifted when you pulled the  transmission and lengths no longer quite the same.  This similar to what you tried, but just remove the range linkage.

 

If I recall, the throw length of the r-1 vs 2-3 gear selector is different, so lever may move less distance for a 2 shift.  However once in 2nd, the detent ball should snap and hold.  Feel for this.

 

That said, if something jammed up when the throw out bearing was hanging, internal damage could prevent gear from sliding sufficiently.  I don't have enough experience here.  I thought these were pretty tough transmission - especially with only 97hp input.

 

Good luck.

 

Kevin

 

 

 

 

 

Edited 22 hours ago by kevin h P15
Fixed idea formation.

[Saskwatch]

1 hour ago, kevin h P15 said:

  However once in 2nd, the detent ball should snap and hold.  Feel for this.

Solid advice here from Kevin. 
  When I was struggling with trying to get the selector throw length dialled in, I was getting nowhere until I removed the two bolts holding the spring & detent ball , gave it a thorough cleaning and a correct length of spring on the selector ball , to get everything moving as intended. ….. made a world of difference and was able to proceed with “getting “ second gear. 
  Not saying this is your specific problem but would be a  place to start .