MG-Cars.net

Welcome to our resource for MG Car Information.

Recommendations

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG MGB Technical - Difficulty engaging gears

My car is a 1973 BGT with standard 4 speed overdrive box. Engine, clutch and gearbox have done almost 20,000 easy miles since a complete rebuild. When engine/gearbox is up to operating temperature, and the car is stationary and on the level, the gearlever seems to be jammed in neutral when I try to engage 1st or 2nd gear. Releasing the pressure on the stick and then retrying seems to allow it to go into gear. Trying 3rd or 4th and then back to 1st also seems to let it go into gear. If the car is on a slight slope either way and I let it roll, the gear lever operates OK. The gearbox is fine during normal driving, overdrive works fine, the oil is Castrol VMX, clean and the right quantity. The clutch seems OK, it engages about 3 inches off the floor, and the car doesn't creep in gear with the clutch in. There are no unusual noises from either clutch or gearbox,
Does anybody know what causes this problem and how to fix it??????????
David Dodd

Hi there!

I have a problem which is very alike yours. But my car is very different from yours, I have a '65 MkI with a 4-box of which only 2,3 and 4 have synchro. Now the problem appears that I seam to lose the synchro in 2nd and sometimes even 3rd gear... Does anyone have an idea?

Greetz,

Alexander
Alexander M

What is it like engaging reverse? A dragging clutch will cause difficulty in engaging lower forward gears but not make a noise, whereas engaging reverse will cause grinding. My V8 tends to do that after being left for a few days. It doesn't creep, engages at the normal point off the floor, but drags slightly with the pedal right down. After a good run it will be fine.

There is also the baulking that seems inevitable with every BL gearbox, it is second nature now to move it towards 2nd then it will go into first. Never had one baulk in 2nd though.

PaulH.
Paul Hunt

Have you checked to see if the car creeps in neutral on level ground with foot off the clutch pedal while the car exibits these symptoms? If it does, something is binding on the transmission main shaft.
George B.

Probably won't fix it, but cheap and easy: change the clevis pins, top and bottom, that connect the clutch linkage. A gentleman on this site posted the problem/fix and I found it easier to shift although the wear in the top pin was not very great.
Dan

i'm having a similar problem with my trani/clutch. with mine, the clutch doesn't seem to be disengaging all the way.. I found my clutch hose drenched in fluid and i keep having to top up my clutch fluid resevoir.. so i'm thinking with mine i'm getting bubbles in the hydraulics of it and the source is that clutch hose. it's old.. probably needs to be replaced.
David Ryzuk

Paul,

Shifting into reverse is no problem at all... Any ideas what could be the problem?

Greetings,

Alexander
Alexander M

I had a similar problem, too when I was leaking fluid. A rebuilt slave cylinder and a good bleed job fixed it.
Jeff.

Jeff Schlemmer

Alexander - if it's grinding possibly wear in the synchro(s). If it is just difficult to get in but not grinding then possibly wear in the gear change linkages.

PaulH.
Paul Hunt

Thanks for the responses.
Paul-Sometimes reverse gear wants to grate slightly on selction. The car hadn't been used for about a month. I took it for a good run down the motorway, and it seems much better.
David/Jeff-The clutch fluid is down slightly, so I may be losing some. Hose looks OK, so if the fluid keeps dropping, I'll try a hone and a new set of seals in the master cylinder.
George-The car does not creep in neutral on level ground so it seems like the transmission isn't binding.
Dan-I'll check the clevis pins.
Dave
David Dodd

This thread was discussed between 17/11/2001 and 19/11/2001

MG MGB Technical index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG MGB Technical BBS is active now.