what could have caused this gearbox problem?

[mojitomax]

Hi all,

i have just bought a 1982 hymer motorhome on a mercedes diesel van chassis. it has been running fine and i moved it this morning with no problems.

however i went to drive it this afternoon and i had lost 1st and 2nd gear. i could leave the clutch up and move the stick into first and second with no resistance. normal resistance into thirds and fourth (i.e it would not move into thrisd and fourth unless i pressed the clutch).

i have to move it a couple of miles down the road which i did in third and then park it up. however, when it came to parking, it lost third and fourth as well and is now stuck in reverse. i can move the stick around, but it won't shift gear out of reverse.

i suspect that perhaps it's a linkage problem? it's a 4 speed box off a 2350cc diesel.

any advice would be appreciated.

thanks for the help

[Simon says]

Is that not based on the flat nosed 307/308TN Merc diesel van? as these I seem to remember had a tendency for the gearstick to pull out of engagement with the selector rails(top of the gearbox) its not a gearbox out job though, and I am sure there was a mod may be hazy its all a long time ago

[mojitomax]

Simon says said:

Is that not based on the flat nosed 307/308TN Merc diesel van? as these I seem to remember had a tendency for the gearstick to pull out of engagement with the selector rails(top of the gearbox) its not a gearbox out job though, and I am sure there was a mod may be hazy its all a long time ago

Yup, that's the one. 307 engine.

Hopefully it's the lever and not something too serious.

Thanks