Wrightpayne Posted October 27, 2016 Share Posted October 27, 2016 Out on a nice run around Rutland and surrounding areas today however, on the way home the gear lever on my 6 speed box went all wobbly. Basically I can select all the gears, and the gears drive OK, but there is no spring loading to centre the lever in the 3rd / 4th plane. Wherever you leave it in neutral its stays rather than springing to the middle. Main question, is this fixable in the car or is it engine and box out?Box has done about 2000 miles since full rebuild at SPC in 2013 - mainly road use and a couple of test days at Curborough.Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SM25T Posted October 27, 2016 Share Posted October 27, 2016 Lift the tunnel top and remove the gear lever retaining plate to have a look. Maybe the fixing bolts are already loose ! Perhaps it needs lubricating .... they do seize up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wrightpayne Posted October 27, 2016 Author Share Posted October 27, 2016 I've just tried to move it up and down and there is only slight movement downwards (as you'd expect to get in reverse) so the fixings are tight. Everything moves freely so not a lubrication issue.Basically the lateral, left and right spring loading on the stick has gone completely - I think a spring has broken somewhere.Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SM25T Posted October 27, 2016 Share Posted October 27, 2016 It's all in the lever mechanism isn't it. Take the retaining plate off and have a look. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Jonathan Kay Posted October 27, 2016 Member Share Posted October 27, 2016 Can you get to the springs from above with the box in situ?Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ECR Posted October 27, 2016 Share Posted October 27, 2016 IIRC on the 5 speed box (and possibly on the 6 speed) there is a grub screw at the n/s top front edge of the box that retains a spring and plunger which gives the lever some positivity. Try that first Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wrightpayne Posted October 27, 2016 Author Share Posted October 27, 2016 Not sure of the location of the spring is that controls this. Search of the forum didn't find anything definitive.There is a plug on the LHS of the box, front near the top but not sure this controls the spring loading of the selector mechanism.Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wrightpayne Posted October 27, 2016 Author Share Posted October 27, 2016 Roger,i've taken the grub screw out and there is another slotted gub screw down the hole which is V tight. I guess I'll have to try harder!!Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SM25T Posted October 27, 2016 Share Posted October 27, 2016 Maybe a phone call to SPC or R&R before going too deep ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wrightpayne Posted October 27, 2016 Author Share Posted October 27, 2016 Right - grub screw out and spring in tact so that's ruled out.I think you're right Ian!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ECR Posted October 27, 2016 Share Posted October 27, 2016 Hmmm. Left and right sloppiness .... Again, my experience is with the 5 speed and IIRC there is a spring wrapped round the selector rod which gives left to right tension. The spring at the front of the box gives front to back location. I am not sure tha l/r spring would be visible if you removed the (5 speed) lid as its in the extension housing I think .... It's been a while since I stripped a box ..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wrightpayne Posted October 28, 2016 Author Share Posted October 28, 2016 Oh and the top steering column bush has gone awol!!I was planning to sorn it on Monday anyway!Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Durrant Posted October 28, 2016 Share Posted October 28, 2016 IIRC the position of the gear lever left to right is controlled by an 'Indent' spring. There are varying different spring rates available and the spring centres the lever in the between the 3rd-4th position. I had mine changed to a medium strength spring to reduce the risk of engaging 2nd instead of 4th when down changing from 5th resulting in over revving the engine. I believe you cannot change this without removing the gearbox and had mine changed during a refresh at Road & Race. I suggest you give Phil Stewart a call on 01959 525105. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wrightpayne Posted October 28, 2016 Author Share Posted October 28, 2016 Thanks Mark - that was the conclusion I'd come to.SPC fitted the medium strength spring to mine. He's only an hour away from me but I'm tempted to try R&R.Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wrightpayne Posted October 31, 2016 Author Share Posted October 31, 2016 Spoken to Steve at SPC today and it could be several things - broken spring (which he doubts), a sheared roll pin or some sort of locking plate come loose. It definitely needs the box removing but may get away with stripping the tail section.Will prob wait till after Xmas now before I remove it so will report back once its fixed.RegardsIan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wrightpayne Posted January 25, 2017 Author Share Posted January 25, 2017 UPDATE - engine and box came out yesterday with assistance from Tazio.Noticed on the gearbox that one of the 6 screws in the breather plate in the tail piece was missing (ones in middle) and when I tipped the box over the other one in the middle fell out. Removed the four peripheral screws and lifted the breather plate.I deduced there should be a bar attached to the breather plate which slots into bronze bits in the selector mechanism. A quick shake of the box and a loose component can be heard! Two hours of fiddling with wire, artery forceps, tie wraps and long set screws, tipping it upsidedown and shaking it and its out (through a 5mm * 30mm hole). Fortunately it had fallen rearwards into the tail piece rather than forwards into the gears.So, if you have a six speed, when the tunnel cover is off just check the 6 tiny machine screws on the breather plate are all tight. Do not, repeat, do not take the 2 middle screws out at the same time whilst attached to the box.I've spoken to SPC, who rebuilt the box 1000 miles ago, who said he doesn't always take the locking bar off the breather plate and doesn't use loctite on the machine screws (if removed) on re-assembly. I will be when I put it back together!!If you want to loctite the screws into the locking bar with the box in situ, I'd suggest removing the 4 outer screws and get the breather plate off the car then work on the locking bar / screws on the bench. The plate will need resealing with RTV and the breather hole in the locking bar faces rearwards, as does the breather hole in the plate.Photos to follow..RegardsIan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wrightpayne Posted January 25, 2017 Author Share Posted January 25, 2017 Breather plate & locking barHole I managed to fish the locking bar through after it had fallen inside (thats a penny)...Breather and locking bar assembled with loctite (hole in end links to breather in plate)...Now placed in position... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wrightpayne Posted February 18, 2017 Author Share Posted February 18, 2017 The other thing I've found is that the new blanking plug I've fitted for the speedo drive touches the worm gear on the output shaft locking it solid.The original one has a ground spot, which I thought had broken through causing a leak, hence I ordered a new one.To remedy I'd not hammered the new plug all the way home leaving it approx 0.5mm proud, however, this causes more end float on the speedo drive. I will probably get some JB weld and clag up the weakness on the original plug and reinstall it.Another FYI on the 6 speed - if you remove the speedo drive retaining cap mark its orientation for re-install.Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave J Posted February 18, 2017 Share Posted February 18, 2017 there is also an alternative breather plate with the means to attach a length of hose or filter to. It's a good mod as there is lots of crap getting in the gearbox otherwise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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