Triumph Repair: Triumph spitfire Mk 3 transmission problem, triumph spitfire mk 3, triumph spitfire mk

Question
I have a 1969 triumph spitfire MK 3 project and everything was working until I rebuilt the transmission.  After it was rebuilt it would no longer shift into second gear but will shift into all the other gears just fine.  I replaced the synchro gears and this worked for about three trips around the block, but then it wouldn't shift into second gear again.  When I drained the transmission fluid there was a lot of gold colored particles in it from the synchro gears. Since then, I've taken the transmission apart several times and its always the same problem.  The gear selector will shift into second gear when it is off the transmission but when I put it on it wont. I'm all out of ideas could you please help.

Answer
Hi Ryan,
The gold colored material is for sure the syncro rings as they are the only thing in the trans that is brass other then some shifter forks are some times brass.

Remove the top cover with the shifter forks and examine the forks for excess ware (if they are brass)

Then take a large screwdriver or small pry bar and manually shift each sliding hub into it's gear to see that each shifts into gear completely and check for excess side play in any of the gears on the mainshaft. If you have a lot of end play in the gears that would account for the not shifting into 2nd and could explain the brass in the oil.

Then operate the shift lever into each gear as though the top was on. You should feel it click into each gear. When it is in a gear try to slide the shift forks by hand to see if there is any free play in either fork. Do each gear the same way. For example, when it is in 1st or 2nd. gear you should not be able to move 3rd./4th fork even with force. The same is true when it is in 3rd or 4th you should not be able to move 1st/2nd fork. This is the "lock out" balls and the plunger between the shift rails. (not the ones with the springs and plungers)


But if the "Lock-out" balls are out and two shifter shafts can be moved at once, it would explain both the brass in the oil and not shifting at times.
Let me know,
Howard