10 replies to this topic

[MarlonSpi]

Model:Mini 30
Year:1989

The gear change in our Mini 30 is somewhat stiff all through the gears including neutral. Our Spi is normal and perfect, when we use the 30 its a bit of a culture shock!

Simple fix?

[jameswhiles]

Model:Mini 30
Year:1989

The gear change in our Mini 30 is somewhat stiff all through the gears including neutral. Our Spi is normal and perfect, when we use the 30 its a bit of a culture shock!

Simple fix?

Mine is like this but only side to side. Are you sure its not the remote assembly thats tight or is it inside the gearbox? Mine is tight inside the gearbox so I need to investigate at some point

[Guess-Works.com]

If the stiffness is 'across the gate', ie going from 2nd to 3rd, 3rd to 2nd or into reverse then the problem is caused by the reverse idler bush which is walking out of the gear.. What this does is prevents the reverse idler from locating properly when not selected, and therefore causes a misalignment in the selector mechanism and friction on the selector rod, which causes the 'stiffness' symptom...

Unfortunately there's nothing you can do about it with the exception of removing the engine and gearbox and either replacing the reverse idler bush or reconditioning the gearbox.

[MarlonSpi]

If the stiffness is 'across the gate', ie going from 2nd to 3rd, 3rd to 2nd or into reverse then the problem is caused by the reverse idler bush which is walking out of the gear.. What this does is prevents the reverse idler from locating properly when not selected, and therefore causes a misalignment in the selector mechanism and friction on the selector rod, which causes the 'stiffness' symptom...

Unfortunately there's nothing you can do about it with the exception of removing the engine and gearbox and either replacing the reverse idler bush or reconditioning the gearbox.

Yes that just about sums it up! Reverse is awkward, you have to " find it"!
I can manage Ok but i suspect earache from " her indoors" as she will be using it when her Spi goes in for a full resto in Feb.

Thanks for the reply its helped a lot because i thought maybe it was just a bush on the remote or something.

[jameswhiles]

If the stiffness is 'across the gate', ie going from 2nd to 3rd, 3rd to 2nd or into reverse then the problem is caused by the reverse idler bush which is walking out of the gear.. What this does is prevents the reverse idler from locating properly when not selected, and therefore causes a misalignment in the selector mechanism and friction on the selector rod, which causes the 'stiffness' symptom...

Unfortunately there's nothing you can do about it with the exception of removing the engine and gearbox and either replacing the reverse idler bush or reconditioning the gearbox.

Marvelous. Sounds like another fun job! Sorry for hi-jacking this thread by the way

[Guess-Works.com]

It's another 'BL/Rover' economy which went wrong...

Originally the reverse idler had a single 'through' bush, which was replaced with two smaller split bushes sometime in the 80's, Rover eventually realised the mistake and it reverted back to the single bush in the 90's

[CaptainBland08]

i had the same problem... turns out mine was fouling on my exhaust...

[bmcecosse]

Would be worth the few seconds it takes to oil the base of the lever - inside it's little box - just in case that's all that's wrong!

[Scruffs]

If Guessworks is correct then there's a slightly dodgy procedure you may want to try:

Stick it in reverse and then push the stick forwards as if you were to going to select a fictional fifth gear. It may take several tries and it may take several whacks. It also may crack the rear diff housing so no guarantees - it may end in tears!!

This has however worked a treat for me in the past on my current (duff) engine/box. I do not know what it actually does as I don't know mini gearboxes too intimately, can only assume it drifts the bush back into it's proper place.....someone else may be able to explain it?? In fact it was this advice that prompted me to join TMF as it saved me a gearbox rebuild! It has relapsed a couple of times in the last 10k but a quick whack sorted it right out...

[Kerrin]

Does the reverse bush problem also cause dificulty in selecting 1st gear? I have re bled the clutch and re adjusted but still no luck. (non verto by the way)

I tapped the bush back in when I rebuilt the box but think it may have walked out again. The gear shift on the project mini is just so much nicer it is really bugging me.

Again sorry for the hijack

[driftz]

If Guessworks is correct then there's a slightly dodgy procedure you may want to try:

Stick it in reverse and then push the stick forwards as if you were to going to select a fictional fifth gear. It may take several tries and it may take several whacks. It also may crack the rear diff housing so no guarantees - it may end in tears!!

This has however worked a treat for me in the past on my current (duff) engine/box. I do not know what it actually does as I don't know mini gearboxes too intimately, can only assume it drifts the bush back into it's proper place.....someone else may be able to explain it?? In fact it was this advice that prompted me to join TMF as it saved me a gearbox rebuild! It has relapsed a couple of times in the last 10k but a quick whack sorted it right out...

 

sorry to bring this back from the dead but I am seeming to have the same issue. wondering if anyone can shed some light on this solution, without the gearbox apart and looking at it, i'm having trouble visualizing the movement of the shifter linkage.