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MG MGB Technical - hard to get into gear

hi ,im'e wondering what problem i have i find it a struggle to get into 1st gear most of the time the other 3seem hard to get into sometimes as well,embarrasing sometimes trying to get into first when in traffic to pull off ,i have to put into 2nd, is gear box knackered and need new one/secondhand?clutch is ok any advice welcome thanks Dave.
david morris

Try bleeding the system first. Sounds like your not getting enough travel out of the slave cylinder. Might want someone to push the clutch for you and check it. Look at the rubber hose that connects it to the clutch line. These get old and will expand causing loss of movement.
J Arthurs

Trouble getting into first is normal with any non-syncro-low gearbox. If that's what you have, simply select any other forward gear before selecting first or reverse.
George B.

If it grinds when going into reverse then it probably is the clutch, if not it probably is the selector mechanism. For the clutch, support the car safely then have someone operate and release the pedal while you measure the movement of the slave piston from underneath, you should see about 1/2" of movement. If you have this then there is some other problem with the clutch. If much less then it needs bleeding. This can be difficult so it will probably be easier to pump all the fluid out of the slave nipple with the pedal than refill the system from the slave nipple using a gunsons Eezi-Bleed on very low pressure.

But it is normal to have to occasionally bump the lever down into 2nd before you can engage 1st, likewise bumping it into 1st before you can engage reverse. But once so bumped they should go in smoothly and easily.
Paul Hunt

This thread was discussed on 02/07/2002

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