QuestionQUESTION: I pulled the engine and trans from my 74 and the transmission sat vertical for about a month on the bell housing.
Prior to this I had no problems shifting at all. Now when we put the engine and new clutch back we had to hobble together a pilot bushing since the one hat was in their was in pieces and the one that came with the new clutch did not fit. anyway now i have occasional problems getting into first and today getting into reverse with the engine on or off. This is with the clutch pedal fully pressed down. Now this isn't gear grinding on gear, it is as if something is blocking the stick shift from moving forward or to the right and down into gear. The stick shift isn't moving forward enough to engage the gears . It eventually gets in but takes a few tries.
i at first thought it might be air in the line but after bleeding it twice and not seeing any air bubbles and still having the same issue I am wondering if its something else.
any ideas? could i have but something back together wrong or is this just a byproduct of new clutch and cobbled pilot bushing?
ANSWER: Hi Ryan,
A 74 MG "B" or "Midget"? Doesn't matter too much because if you have a hard time shifting into gear with the engine off, It has nothing to do with the clutch or pilot bearing. It can only be in the shift linkage all the way in to the sliding hubs inside. The only thing outside of the box is the shift tower an you can remove the shift lever and use a pry bar or large screwdriver to try to shift gears and if they are still hard to shift you need to remove the box and open it up and manually shift each sliding hub to shift each gear with a large screwdriver and thus see what is wrong.
As far as storing it on end, that will not harm anything other than leak the oil out because I never seen one that would hold the oil in standing on end. Over the years I think I have stood hundreds up that way for just a short time and I can't remember any not leaking.
Howard
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: by box you mean the transmission? and by open up you mean drain and remove place on bench and then go at it? is there any way to check it while still in the car? could i just open the side cover and check it that way?
AnswerRyan, yes, "box" or gearbox or transmission. And yes, "Open Up" is remove the engine and transmission and then remove the side cover and use a large screwdriver to move each sliding hub (that each shifter fork moves) to try to see why they don't move. And at that time check for any metal filings in the oil and check for any excess end play in any of the gears. I would advise that you purchase a service manual for what ever kind of car this is since you still have not told me what it is.
Howard
