clee wrote:balls ?
No it's not balls these were replaced on the linkage before my trip to Wales end of last summer. This helped the change immensly with reverse being obtained single handedly and 5th now being obtainable alltogether. 2nd gear remained baulky though.
In typical style Christine decided that the the clutch would give up the ghost and I slipped and slid my way home from Wales. Christine then stuck the boot in again and the car broke down on the trailer to WSR Silverstone having no clutch pedal at all by the time she arrived, pumping the pedal remedied the problem. The slave was leaking and now replaced direct from Ruin U. So new Turbo clutch, new balls and slave and I still cant get 2nd when I need it!!
I lost the linkage on my first run taking the last 2 1st gear bends in 3rd and still put a respectable time up of about 62.5 seconds. I spent the the whole of the next run underneath struggling to put the linkage back together, a bolt not having been done up tight. With a flexible head ratchet spanner I manged to get on to the nut at the top of the bolt, there was no way I was going to get it on or off without it. I manage to get the linkage fixed and get a final practice run in, just before the 1st timed run.
Many thanks to Mr Taylor for the advice/help and spanner, without which my day would have been over before it started.
Now that the linkage was done up tight the linkage no longer fell off, but I had great difficulties in getting 2nd gear ....if at all on some straights just depressing the clutch and rolling to the next corner before rammimg it back into 1st with discust
Some runs I was missing at least 3 or 4 changes, and 3rd also baulking on one run. I managed to get my time down to 61,69 but considering I did not have one trouble free run I was sort of pleased with my times as I felt had I had 2nd when I needed it I could have easily knocked 2 + seconds off my times.
I even tried a quick clutch bleed and the fluid was quite black which is supprising since its not very old at all and has been bled several times. I have some ATE race fluid to put in so I will try this and I am also looking into box oil as Atmo oil is listed as a thicker oil, i currently have turbo grade oil in ..I feel that I am grasping at straws here though
Prior to the meeting the car was taken for a country road test and no issue with change arose. It only appeared to arise when a gear needed to be selected with any kind of real urgency at the meeting. The other difference being is that when road testing I was not reving the car as hard.
My first run where the linkage detached was my best run changewise. well until the linkage detached. The pinch bolt was then done up as firmly as possible and then further selection problems arose. should this be done up this tight? If its not done up tight the linkage would appear to pop out of the locating tube at the rear of the gearbox. The linkage may also be slightly bent as there was evidence of damage to the front nylon bush at the gear lever end when I initally bought the car. Bolts were straightend and a good 2nd hand bush was used to replace the damaged item. Is the linkage slightly bent ? who knows?
All in all I had fun, if not very frustrating. It was the first time I had really driven the car in anger so a few minor mistakes were made.
I am now looking to rectify the gear selection problem before entering for Prescot and Crystal Palace as there is no point without 2nd gear when you need it
Si21
