Fitfth gear broken in T5 gearbox

[fablux]

Hi!

Just bought myself a Schwartz Chimaera 400 -96, beautiful car, the best thing I have ever done.
Drove it home to Gothenburg in Sweden, from Hull in England, with the help of a TVR-driverfriend.

Just outside of Gothenburg, the fifth gear broke.
In a regular overtaking, the gearbox whistled for a bit, followed by a metallic *klonk*, and then became neutral.
The other gears works fine, the reverse works etc.
I can engage the fifth gear, but it does not drive. It only works as a neutral.
What can this be?

Regards
Fabian

[fablux]

Wow.. Thanks for the quick answers!
Is it possible to drive it without damaging the car more, with the gearbox as it is now.

[fablux]

Thanks for the help!
Will get it roadlegal i Sweden and registred, then I'll look it up.

/fabian

[fablu]

So this exact same thing happened again, found my old post when googling around.
Probably the same issue.

Was cruising along in 5th gear and suddenly fifth gear wasnt engaged anymore, behaves like clutch is engaged.
No bang, no crunch, no noises just disappeared.

Mine's a standard 400, and it's not like I'm driving it hard.

Is there anything I can do for this not to happen again, specific upgrade kits or something?

edit: Everything went fine last time. Removed box, sent it to repair and got it back, installed it and all was good

Edited by fablu on Saturday 20th July 11:07

[fablu]

phazed said:

That shouldn't have happened a second time.

Who did the repair?

Don't want to point anyone out, but a guy doing gearboxes in southern Sweden, but I have no reason to believe he didn't do a proper job (well renowned and used to working on Lotus from what I know)

But as you say I would also expect it to last more than 6 years.

[fablu]

Follow up!
Finally got the car to a workshop, the retaining ring had snapped in half so fifth gear was on the loose.

New one fitted, lets hope this thread isnt resurrected in six years again