Stuck in first update.

Well the engine has been dropped off at the machine shop and I got a chance for a better inspection of my gears. The first gear slider is stuck fast on the hub. Not sure if it's was just corroded and got too hot or what, but it seems pretty done for.

Another thing that looked weird to me, but may not be abnormal was that the bearing at the rear of the gearbox is free to come right out of the bearing housing. Is that normal? It's been seven years since I've had one of these apart.

I stripped the gearbox this evening. I'm going to stop for the night before taking on the main gearset. Not the kind of thing you want to get tired in the middle of. Everything but first gear looks pretty good. One spot of really bad rust on first. Maybe it got some moisture in the assembly and ended up freezing. this is one of those $100 ebay gearboxes.

By the way, It's a SOB getting the mainshaft past reverse when your first gear doesn't slide!

Cheers, CJ

Perhaps it has broken detents (spring/ball) that have locked it in place... although corrosion seems likely given your description.

That would be awesome. I just hope I can get the assembly off the shaft with no problem. Seems to spin fine. Guess I'll find out tonight.

Getting the bearing off was the hardest part so far. As I was persuading the bearing off the shaft, first gear decided to finally become unstuck. Nothing like the sound of three springs and ball bearings landing in six different places in the garage. Holy crap, I can't believe I found them all.

Anyway, a bunch of synchro dust caked under the gear seems to be the culprit. The gear itself looks pretty worn, but the hub looks OK. Time to take apart my spare gearbox to see what could help.

Progress, at least, eh? ;)

Hope you didn't use up any of your good "ju-ju" (as Peter puts it) finding the springs and balls!

Well I have the whole works back together with new synchros, but I guess the "Ju-ju" left me this afternoon. As I went to run the gears through it seems that I have not lined the plunger up correctly on the 1st/ 2nd synchro hub. I have made the same mistake before so I should know better. Oh well, the machine shop hasn't even started on the engine so I guess I have plenty of time to get it right.

LOL

I did a Volvo box (Iron rock-crusher 4-sp), my first ever transmission, and was so happy it all went back together and the layshaft went in and everything was groovy... Except it WOULD NOT SHIFT. Dern.

Turned out the springs were ever so slightly notched (they use a big wire spring... I'd call it a spiral but it doesn't even make a full circle) and the detent, er, plates? wouldn't get out of the way. Small delay for mail and a set of new springs made all the difference.

But I had to take it completely apart again to put them in. Sigh.

Ju-Ju is a cruel mistress. First gear came off the hub and I lost the springs and balls in the most precarious operation of mainshaft removal. Found all but one ball. Good to have a spare gearbox I can glean from.