[ROVERNET - UK] Shifting Problem (post for friend)

[S Manwell]

Steve,

Our P4 100 has/had possibly related clutch issues.  When we bought it in 
'01, we knew that it became difficult to get into gear after it was 
warm.  The problem got worse over several months of active use.  I had 
to slip it into first just before coming to a full stop and keep it in 
gear, otherwise it would not go into gear from neutral with the engine 
idling.  This led to a project to replace the clutch and rear main seal 
and resurface the flywheel.  My theory is that the leaky rear seal 
caused the clutch disk to get soaked with oil, and it swelled enough to 
drag.  With around 37,000 miles at the time the disk wasn't worn enough 
to compensate for the swelling / sticky surface.  I had the clutch 
linkage adjusted for maximum release with the pedal to the floor, with 
hardly any pedal travel at the other end of the range with the upper 
stop "adjusted" for more travel. 

The new clutch transformed the shifting for the most part.  It is now 
happy to slip into first after idling in neutral and generally shifts 
nicely.  The previous owner is amazed to see how easily it goes through 
the gears when we visit and give him a ride.

It is, however, still a little reluctant to go into 3rd when shifting on 
the move -- after it is warmed up.  I am suspicious that the synchro 
rings may have gotten abused over some years of use with the dragging 
clutch, and I guess that the sychro likes the viscosity of the gearbox 
oil best when it is cold.  I have been using engine oil in the gearbox, 
partly because it has a Laycock overdrive.  I intend to try Redline MTL 
which is a synthetic "manual transmission lube" that is supposed to give 
optimum friction for sychro operation, while providing lubrication for 
the gears.  It's popular with the Volvo crowd for manual gearbox cars, 
including those with overdrives, and the Redline tech said it should be 
good for a manual/overdrive application.  I didn't use the car much last 
year and never got 'round to this test, but will have to do it this season.

--Steve Manwell


Steve L wrote:
> My friend (he is the guy that had that green TC racer on eBay a few 
> weeks ago) is having the following problem -- I quote:
>
> "The symptoms are it shifts fantastic from a cold start and then after 
> about 5 minutes it becomes difficult to shift from any engine speed, 
> and after about 10 minutes it will let you out of a gear but not back 
> into a gear such as shifting from 2 to 3 or 3rd to 4th or vice versa. 
> Sometimes I have had to pull over and start from a standing start and 
> working my way up thru the gears."
>
> The clutch cylinders are fine -- lots of clutch throw.  I have never 
> heard of the gearboxes having problems after driving a while.  What do 
> you think?
>
> Thank you,
> Steve
>
> p.s.  Does anybody have a spare Lucas 3AW warning lamp control that I 
> could purchase?
>
>
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