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MG MGF Technical - Crunching noise fast shfting from 2nd to 3rd... how bad would be the damage?

Hi everyone.

Fast shifting from 2nd to 3rd, sometimes gives me problems. It misses the gear, and when I try to shove it in 3rd again, it crunches. (I think I also have a bad habit of lifting up the clutch too quickly as well)

How bad is it for the gearbox itself? It happens rarely but still happens. Depending on how fast I try to accelerate.

My mechanic tells me it's because I am shifting too fast, and I am beating the synchromesh.. and tells me it's not a good thing, and tells me to shift slower.

How bad is it for the gearbox itself? I think I have done it about 10 times already in last few years. If I give time, and do normal changes, I never crunch it, only do it when I accelerate hard (but not rarely happens even during that).

I looked through the archive, not many answers, or much information on it. Only thing I know is that's it's a bad thing. :(

Would fitting Mike's SSK2 rectify this problem. And also have I done much damage on the gear box already?

Thanks, please let me know.

Regards,
Hanah Kim
Hanah Kim

Sounds like you need to do two things:-

1. Change the gearbox oil to get rid of the crunchings

2. Learn to double de-clutch

This gearchanging technique was absolutely necessary on many old cars and especially trucks with either no synchromesh or worn synchromesh cones.

I still do it out of force of habit when changing down and if you get it right the change can be almost clutchless.

Certainly this will slow down your changes and probably extend the life of your worn gearbox. A slickshift will speed things up and make the problem worse

Brian

Basic things first. Check the clutch fluid reservoir is topped up
GJ

Brian,

I don't think double declutching will help when changing up, only down. Hanah's problem is when changing from 2nd to 3rd. I guess you just have to be patient Hanah and give the box time!

Bruce
Bruce Caldwell

Yes, thanks for the input guys.

I will check the clutch fluid reservoir.

But as Bruce mentioned as well, it only happens from 2nd to 3rd. I was wondering if re-alignment or getting SSK2 might help in this case.


And on the worrying side, have I done much damage on the gearbox itself do you think?

Bruce, yes if I do slow changes, it goes in 100% of time, even relatively fast ones are ok. Just trying to real fast ones... it *sometimes* misses.

But then I do the fastest changes from 2nd 3rd, and that could be why. My 1st to 2nd shift is pretty stiff, so have to be slow anyway.
Hanah Kim

Believe me, on a really zero synchromesh gearbox, it works both up and down. My references are 17 years old, A level student - summer holidays - mid-60's driving a just post-war truck delivering soft drinks door-door.

All changes needed the technique


Brian

Got a similar intermittent problem selecting 5th - it's a wearing synchro ring. Quite why 5th gear is effected on my car whilst 2nd and 3rd are perfectly good is anyone's guess...

Best live with it for the moment Hanah, at least until such time as you can justify a SR replacement! ;o))
Rob Bell

:o)

Was thinking about that too. (SR)

I've only done 35000km though...

Doh!

Cheers Rob..
Hanah Kim

Hanah,
check the both upper & lower 'rubber thingies' which connects the cable with the bell connection at gearbox. worn/misalligned rubber could cause crunching. sorry couldn't be more specific.. its a monday.

regards.

Jason

I think that Hanah's problem (as he keeps saying) is due to him keeping missing the gate, the spring is just not strong enough to pull the stick over in time- Would the SSK make the spring tighter?
Rob, i'm guessing your trouble is that 4->5 takes more time due to the stronger spring, and your clutch foot is still moving at the same speed.
The thing to remember is that if you miss a gear, then put your foot on the clutch

wait for the revs to die

Try again
Otherwise the revs are too high and the gearbox gets upset!

Will
Will Munns

Thanks Will and Jason.

Yeah, mine is mostly due to missing the gate! I know that for sure. Would getting an SSK2 improve it?
Hanah Kim

Improving the accuracy of the gear selector will clearly help a lot if this is the problem (on a 35k km old car, then this seems more likely than a worn gearbox).

Will - I thought the same as you - releasing the clutch too fast. One of the TS lads found the same occasional grunch into 5th, and came up with the worn synchro theory. I rather hope that the synchro is not worn!
Rob Bell

This thread was discussed between 31/08/2002 and 02/09/2002

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