11 replies to this topic

[tb205gti]

More problems with the mini. :)

 

It's getting really hard to get it into gear once it is stationary, 1st is the worst, but also 2nd. If the car is rolling a tad it's better, but not perfect.

 

There is no crunching, no jumping out of gears, no grinding when doing quick gearchanges - just hard to get it into gear. When it gets warmer (the oil) it's worsened.

 

Am I looking at a gearbox rebuild?

[Andi-p]

Try an oil change. When the oil has drained check it for metallic particles. Could be a rebuild as worst case scenario

[Joe-C]

Might just be the clutch. Best thing to start off with is check for any leaks in the slave and master cylinder and bleed the system.

[Vipernoir]

Check the clutch adjustment and bleed it thoroughly.

 

I doubt it is oil related.

[Alex_B]

+1 for checking the clutch, sounds like possibly the slave cylinder is going, had this happen to me, bled the clutch which fixed it for a while then it started getting worse again so changed the cylinder in the end but you can just replace the seals provided the bore is good condition

[Guess-Works.com]

Pump the clutch, if the gear change improves, then you have your answer....

 

However, you may be experiencing what is called baulking... essentially what this means is when the dogs go to engage they are not sliding over but rather sticking... this is usually the product of wear, and coupled by crunching. What may have happened is the box has been 'reconditioned' but without regard for the condition of the gears or synchro hubs, or just done on a budget.

[tb205gti]

Pump the clutch, if the gear change improves, then you have your answer....

 

However, you may be experiencing what is called baulking... essentially what this means is when the dogs go to engage they are not sliding over but rather sticking... this is usually the product of wear, and coupled by crunching. What may have happened is the box has been 'reconditioned' but without regard for the condition of the gears or synchro hubs, or just done on a budget.

 

 

I'll try pumping the cluth the next time, normally I just stick it in 3rd, and then it normally goes into 1st. I did have some clutch issues some time ago - the pedal went rock hard and I could not push it down at all. After I had tried a few times i left the car. A few days later I decided "what the feck" and I gave the clutch a _massive_ push, POP and it worked again - and now even softer than before.. So the slave might need a replacement,

 

As for the "baulking", there is no crunching at all it's just really hard to get into gear. :/ The gearbo have not been rebuild to my knowledge. The car as done 62.000Km by now.

[Andi-p]

If it is clutch related the fault would be difficult in all gears.

[tb205gti]

Pumping the clutch makes no difference.

[Pigeonto]

I had this on my 30,000 mile box,also with no crunching and when i was forced to recently strip the engine i renewed the baulk rings which has vastly improved the situation. Slightly concerned about what Guessworks said about other issues though I considered it shouldnt have wear at that mileage.

[Andi-p]

The wear could also be due to the lack of maintenence or incorrect grade of oil.

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Just for posterity and to note another possible solution:

 

I had a similar issue with lower gears and particularly reverse.

 

Turned out to be that my Verto clutch arm AND throw out bearing plunger had both worn so much that I was not getting a good disengagement even at full pedal press.  

 

Replaced all the parts and shifting was a good as new.