Surprise......gearbox problem!!!

Kitch · Post by **Kitch** » Wed Jan 23, 2008 11:02 pm

This can only get better now!! With my current trend of gearboxes that keep coming unattatched from the engine (think I might have sussed it now), the gearbox on the valver seems to have given up tonight in a very unusual fashion.
On my way to Swindon to do an eBay deal (and to find this Magic Roundabout thing), I pull away from a junction in a more "spirited" style and upon my change into 2nd gear the box grinds badly. The syncro on this box has always been a bit iffy on a fast 1st to 2nd upchange, but this wasn't. It then proved very hard to find any gear on the A34! I pulled off and stopped the car, where I found I could get all gears again. I put it down to a funny 5 mins and continued, but had to stop shortly after as the same happened again. This time, the clutch made a whirring sound as I pressed the pedal while idling on the stop and I once more couldn't get a gear. The whirring got worse and eventually I found 3rd, but a split second after the gear lever lurched forward and jammed itself pretty much up against the coin holder! It now won't move at all! I managed to drive the car back in 3rd gear (including a hill start.....my clutch is as sore as my wallet is bound to be) so it got me home when the odds were probably against it, like it did when I bent the crankshaft!

But what a situation! I've pretty much given up all hope on this box already, and there doesn't seem to be anything jammed in the linkages. It's always been a shite box this one, and what with the pinion needing doing, possible octopus, exhaust manifold, head rebuild as a few other jobs, it looks like the engine's coming out again!

This now also means I have to use a V8 TVR as a daily commuting car

MULLEY · Post by **MULLEY** » Wed Jan 23, 2008 11:16 pm

Woops, makes my problem seem trivial in comparison.

Surprise, surprise, i dont have a clue as to what may have happened, perhaps the more enlightened could offer some prognosis?

Post by **docchevron** » Thu Jan 24, 2008 3:15 am

It could be as simple as the raw pin broke in the selector fork arm, but then again, it just couldn't be that simple with this car could it really!!

You said the old box was better I seem to remember, so seems an ideal oppertunity to throw that in witha new clutch..

Always look at the positives!

AndersDK · Post by **AndersDK** » Sun Jan 27, 2008 1:01 am

Engine mount failure. The drivetrain is now carried partly by the gearchange linkrods. Thats why the stick suddenly jammed up against the console.

Very often happens during or after a spirited driving

- though my last incident was a burst coolant hose - for the same reason

Kitch · Post by **Kitch** » Sun Jan 27, 2008 6:08 pm

But that would be the gearbox engine mount wouldn't it? If the rear one went I'd notice all manner of knocking long before and if it were the main gearbox mount surely the whole thing would be hanging down to one side??

Had that on a mk1 16RS recently as Doc will testify, but luckily the extra crossmember mk1's have from f/panel to subframe supported the engine!

New mount and it was happy as Larry!

AndersDK · Post by **AndersDK** » Sun Jan 27, 2008 7:09 pm

Take a look in your engine bay

- THEN lets discuss ...

Kitch · Post by **Kitch** » Sun Jan 27, 2008 8:42 pm

Just looked in the engine bay. The engine mounts aren't broken

To be fair, I'd probably have noticed if they were. I suspect it's an internal gearbox problem.

jeremy · Post by **jeremy** » Sun Jan 27, 2008 10:44 pm

I think one of the bearings has disintegrated - and its balls started to drop out due to wear. Heavy loading would force the shaft to one side of its bearing - allowing a ball to pop out of the other. I know they have cages to hold them in place but if these things are determined to break they will burst the cage - and you'll find the debris in a magnetic drain plug.

The box can probably be repaired as I expect the bearings are standard sizes - even if they can't be obtained from Citroen within living memory. Things like synchro parts would be Citroen (or Peugeot I suppose) only.

demag · Post by **demag** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 12:33 am

I'll take a guess at a layshaft bearing.

What do I win if I'm right?

MULLEY · Post by **MULLEY** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 7:23 pm

The bust gearbox, which you can then enjoy repairing

Kitch · Post by **Kitch** » Sun Feb 03, 2008 11:06 pm

Reeto....what actually happened (now its all in bits and I've had a look) is that the grinding from the box on each gearchange had caused the weakest gear linkage to pop off and get wedged in the subframe....hence my gearlever being stuck like this:

I'm halfway through the stages of removing the engine and box, then I'll fit the replacement, attempt to overhaul the tappets and change every remaining component that could cause my PAS to fail!