Boldly going forward, still cant find reverse...

[Moogie]

Hi people,

I write in hope someone can help.

I have a MGB GT 1.8 1978 with overdrive, rubber bumper model that has a wee issue. Finding reverse it a nightmare!

Mindy as she is known, feels a little crunchy when navigating gears and I am pretty sure that when I picked her up 7 months ago, this crunchiness wasn't there. There is no noise, it just feels rough moving the gear stick. Additionally, reverse is very problematic and its often easier to flag down unwilling victims to push the car back than spend the time needed to locate it.

I have tried to check the gearbox oil level but I am missing the internal 'thing' that is usually there which means I can check the oil level from within the passenger foot well rather than from under the car. But I am told that this won't be the reverse issue (it may help the roughness though?!)

Its not always been this elusive, its developed.

Her gearbox has been remounted (it has dropped to sit on the prop shaft) and this has not made any difference to the issue.

Through aggressive passengers and their hamfistedness, the gear nob is now rattling and the gaiter has split (I do hope I can fix this too..)

You will have to excuse the abundant lack of technical information here..

If you can help or have any wisdom you could impart, I would be super grateful as I am worried that through driving her I am causing more problems and I dearly would like to avoid this.

Thank you in advance for reading.

[PositronicRay]

Putting oil in my Midget gearbox transformed the change and NVH issues.

Maybe your clutch isn't disengaging properly check fluid, could also be a leak @ one of the cylinders, or not assembled correctly.

Start with the simple things, oil in gearbox, hydraulic fluid etc

Not sure what sitting on the prop shaft means. Rattly gear knob is probably the gear shift linkage, I'm sure a few bob on nylon bushes from MGOC will sort that.

Edited by PositronicRay on Monday 11th April 12:55

[Moogie]

Thank you for the reply

From what I recall, some universal joints had become very rusty so when I hit 70mph is sounded very much like the diff was making noises. This was the universal joins giving way and the gearbox was then on the propshaft. The noise has now gone so presume this was right.

I will try to get the car up in the air to check the gear oil, I don't seem to have the passenger side foot well option to check this.

[PositronicRay]

Try the drivers footwell. Check the handbook for the oil grade, IIRC they use engine oil not gearbox oil.

Have you checked the clutch fluid?

[Moogie]

Absolutely checked the clutch fluid, clutch cable replaced a few months ago so I am fairly sure that is ok.

I have really truly searched the footwell but I will go and check again, the manual has no indication its anyplace other than the underside of the car though (its a '78 rubber bumper b gt if that helps matters).

Thanks for the tip on oil though, I will check to make sure that I have the right stuff

[PositronicRay]

Moogie said:

Absolutely checked the clutch fluid, clutch cable replaced a few months ago so I am fairly sure that is ok.

You don't have both.

[v8250]

PositronicRay said:

Moogie said:

Absolutely checked the clutch fluid, clutch cable replaced a few months ago so I am fairly sure that is ok.

You don't have both.

Moogie, your B has no clutch cable. You have master and slave hydraulic clutch cylinders. First steps, buy yourself a proper MGB service/maintenance manual. Next drain your gearbox oil, replaacing with standard mineral 20W50 engine; all later 4speed syncro + OD 'boxes used this. Halfrauds/Millers Classic 20W50 works correctly. If still problematic re-check gearbox mounting rubbers and stabilization bar rubbers. Re' clutch cylinders...when was the last time the slave cylinder and hydraulic clutch line were replaced? If not in tip top condition change these as it's such a small sum and completely replace the clutch hydraulic fluid. Note, it can be troublesome when bleeding the B's slave cylinder due to its position so read here and all should be fine...http://www.mgb-stuff.org.uk/clutchtext.htm

[dryden]

I have a B with what seems to be a good gearbox, an overdrive unit, which also baulks selecting reverse sometimes, when it does, I slip it in first, drag the cluch a little, and select reverse. works every time, and becomes an automatic response......bit like double de-cluching!

[niva441]

My 78 GT didn't have an access hole in the footwell and the only way to check was from underneath. I've now created the hole and it makes checking a lot better.

[Moogie]

You'll have to excuse my lack of technical expertise, what I know has been acquired through classic car magazines and other forums, I have no mechanical experience just a love for classic cars. Up until 7 months ago I was a happy PC gamer who enjoyed a spot of knitting and shopping with her friends so I've come a long way but clearly not far enough just yet.

I had a cable, it dumped my clutch fluid on the road as it was old and split. That cable, pipe or whatever it is called was replaced.

The oil level is fine, and with the right oil, and I have ordered some bushes in hope that this will fix it before my run next weekend. Thank you ever so much for your help and guidance :-)

[PositronicRay]

I'd love to recommend signing up for a car maintenance evening class, but not many colleges run them sadly.

It may be worth bleeding the clutch hydraulics, maybe air still in the system.

Edited by PositronicRay on Friday 15th April 12:51