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MG MG Y Type - Unable to select gear

Started YB1041 which had been garaged since November last .However unable to select any gear . Switched off ,turned engine on starter and tried again .No problem selecting gears and so headed for first run of 2010. Great to be on the road again .
Why could gears not be selected on first attempt?
E Winters

Ed

Does the problem still exist or has it now gone awaay?
If it persists, then there is still a problem.
If it was a one off, it is possible that the clutch may have been temprarily stuck after a period of inactivity.

Let us know and we'll take it from there.

Paul
Paul Barrow

Probably clutch plate sticking to flywheel because car unused since November last.
Everything OK now as when freed by turning engine with ignition switched off .
Everything OK on short test run .

Hopefully one off.

E Winters

Most peculiar Ed, but so long as all is OK now. May be worth next winter just going and exercising the clutch pedal a few times next winter especially if the garage is unheated or dampish. Maybe look at getting a small electric oil radiator for the garage and a dehumidifier that is piped to the outside world for drainage (put the drain pipe of a down slope though so the water will run out of it and not puddle in the exit pipe).

Paul
Paul Barrow

A sticking clutch would only hinder gear selection, and the gearbox would complain by making lots of noise as the dogs on the sides of the gears tried to engage. More likely the selector rod detent ball were sticking and the cross slide, through not being moved for ages. There are three of them above each selector rod and with a cross-slide stop the selection of two gears at once. Perhaps the oil is a bit stale and it had dried out around these rods and ball bearing holes, turning into a sticky glue and literally sticking it all together. Once it warmed up the 'glue' would soften a bit and then work OK.

Another thought leads me to the common fault of this Morris Ten gearbox, and that is of the locking set-screws that hold the selectors themselves to the rods working loose. In the factory they were locked with copper wire. After a while this wire loosens and the set-screws undo a little. It is easy to cure as only the top of the gearbox in situ needs to be removed. Tighten the square-headed set-screws up and then wire lock them with soft-iron aircraft locking wire. A sign these screws are loose is jumpong out of gear on the overrun and poor selection.

NC.
Neil Cairns

Great comments Neil - thanks

Paul
Paul Barrow

This thread was discussed between 12/02/2010 and 16/02/2010

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