Gearbox judders first second and reverse

[JayJay42]

I'm new to this site so before I start I would like to say

Hi to all
Here goes

I own a 1968 Morris Oxford

Manual gearbox

When I put it in to first second or reverse

The car judders like mad

Not all time but most

3rd and 4th ok

Can anybody give me any advice

Thank you to all

[texaxile]

If they're rwd, possible propshaft problem?. It happened to my Capri years ago, juddering like mad in low gears and it turned out the UJ in the shaft had worn.

Secondly, could it be clutch judder? ( although I think it might only be evident upon taking up drive in 1st) not sure what the cure for that is, but I'd expect it to be maybe a new flywheel, a skim or maybe a clutch. Perhaps also check the whole clutch assembly ,perhaps a misaligned thrust or release bearing?.

Lastly, I've had this before as well, check the engine mounts. I've experienced a broken mount before where the rubber had actually split all the way through but was not visible immediately, however under load the torque of the engine was allowing the whole thing to twist and create some vibration throughout the car again, all in lower gears .

Hope that helps, sorry for any spelling mistakes, damn infernal iPads.....

[Old Git]

My Jag Mk 2 was difficult to drive smoothly in first or reverse. The flywheel had been lightened during an engine rebuild and I thought that was to blame. I perfected my clutch technique and for over ten years I have tolerated the juddering. Two weeks ago I replaced the diff oil seal and noticed the two halves of the prop shaft were mis-aligned by one spline. Sorted that out and guess what - no juddering.

[littleredrooster]

Soggy gearbox or engine mounts may be the culprit. Otherwise it's oil (or a contaminant) on the friction plate.

[Rumple]

Crank seal gone?, sounds like oil contamination on the clutch plate.

[spoodler]

Golden rule with old cars is check the cheapest things first... so forget out of balance flywheels etc.

Check that the engine and gearbox are bolted up tight.
Check the mountings are not past it as already suggested.
If both of the above are okay then as said above oil contamination of the clutch plate is likely. If you are using the car regularly you may find that you can ignore it and learn to drive round it - if not it probably means engine out to change the rear crank seal. Also could be the clutch driven plate or release bearing breaking up but this will mean gearbox or engine out.
Most out of balance faults will get worse as speed increases so unlikely to be prop' etc.

Also, you don't say how much you are using the car - if it is sitting for long periods it could be down to contamination of the clutch due to lack of use, this should clear itself with a bit of clutch slipping.

[friederich]

Don't know much (anything!) about Minors specifically, but worth checking the rear spring bushes and shackles. Wear/free play in these can promote judder in live axle vehicles.

Ooops - just seen the OPs car is an Oxford, not a Minor. Same comment applies though!

[JayJay42]

Thank you for all your kind help
There was one reply saying the judder will get worse
When I get up to speed but this isn't the case
It only judders when I pull away 1st and 2nd and also when I reverse
When I pull away and the wheels are rolling its fine no judder
When I pull of in first judders
Get up to 5 to 10 mph then into 2nd no judder 3rd 4th gears are fine
It's just when I pull away in iver 1st or 2nd
There's no leaks of oil from gearbox on ground
And all gears change smooth once rolling

[JayJay42]

Rumple said:

Crank seal gone?, sounds like oil contamination on the clutch plate.

[report] [news]  19:46
Thank you for all your kind help
There was one reply saying the judder will get worse
When I get up to speed but this isn't the case
It only judders when I pull away 1st and 2nd and also when I reverse
When I pull away and the wheels are rolling its fine no judder
When I pull of in first judders
Get up to 5 to 10 mph then into 2nd no judder 3rd 4th gears are fine
It's just when I pull away in iver 1st or 2nd
There's no leaks of oil from gearbox on ground
And all gears change smooth once rolling

[JayJay42]

JayJay42 said:

[report] [news]  19:46
Thank you for all your kind help
There was one reply saying the judder will get worse
When I get up to speed but this isn't the case
It only judders when I pull away 1st and 2nd and also when I reverse
When I pull away and the wheels are rolling its fine no judder
When I pull of in first judders
Get up to 5 to 10 mph then into 2nd no judder 3rd 4th gears are fine
It's just when I pull away in iver 1st or 2nd
There's no leaks of oil from gearbox on ground
And all gears change smooth once rolling

So if it's crank seal gone is it a expensive job if I put it into
A garage
And also will I need a new cluch

[JayJay42]

Rumple said:

Crank seal gone?, sounds like oil contamination on the clutch plate.

So if it's crank seal gone is it a expensive job if I put it into
A garage
And also will I need a new cluch

Thank you for your help

[DocArbathnot]

JayJay42 said:

So if it's crank seal gone is it a expensive job if I put it into
A garage
And also will I need a new cluch

Thank you for your help

As someone else said, check the simple things 1st, engine mounts, things tight (gearbox, mounts, axle, springs etc)

[davepoth]

It could be that. But I don't think it will be. Check the engine and gearbox mounts. They can go soggy with age and cause exactly this sort of judder.

[Hooli]

I had a collasped gearbox bearing in a Landrover & it caused this. Hopefully it won't be that though as it was a bugger to fix, got some funny looks rebuilding a gearbox on a workmate stood in the road....

[bstark]

Yep, another vote for the mounts here.

[V8 FOU]

When I used to work on these for a living, (really - as Taxis!!), the usual cause of judder was broken damper springs in the centre plate or a knackered spigot bearing. More likely than mounts. could also be, as suggested, oil contamination.

[anonymous-user]

Clutch. Try pulling pulling off down a hill - if 1st and 2nd are better, it's the clutch.

[SiredR]

I would add oil contamination to the clutch becomes a lot more evident when the drivetrain gets hot , it will become very "grabby" when pulling away from a standstill but has almost no effect on takeoff when cold.