Problem with gears

[AlexR]

I've started having probs with the gears over the past couple of weeks...when the car's been standing for a few days, it's nigh on impossible to select any of the gears when the car is first started up. Works fine with the engine off though so I've been getting round the problem by starting it up with first gear engaged and the clutch depressed. As soon as it gets going, the gears work fine again. Is this a sign that the gearbox is on the way out? The car (97 Chim 450) has done just over 53K miles and had a 6K mile service about 3 months back.
Any ideas?
Cheers,
Alex.

[ribol]

Just a guess really but I would have said the problem is the clutch not disengaging 100%. By selecting the gear first before you start it this would allow the gears to engage without baulking. You say that after you get going all seems to be well again, if you can select the forward gears but not select reverse without embarassing noises then that proves it.

Ivan

[Hut49]

Sounds like you've got a case of clutch drag (the clutch disc may be dragging against the flywheel or pressure plate) - since you say it seems to get better once on the move it is most likely to be the clutch disc hub sticking on the splined clutch shaft due to splines being covered with gummy oil, dirt or rust (the latter is especially likely if the car is used infrequently). It's also possible that the friction lining of the clutch disc could be damaged or warped but the most likely cause is lack of free movement of the clutch disc hub along the splines. Sometimes its caused by a little oil that has weeped from the crankshaft rear main oil seal that has congealed and collected dust. Frequent use might clear it otherwise its going to eventually mean dropping the gearbox and replacing the clutch disc (also checking if the oil seal needs replacing!!)

Hutch