5th gear

[tirpsesutol 0]

Hello. Been having a little trouble disengaging 5th lately. All gear seem ok but when gearing down to 4th the 5th gear just wont release easily. Any ideas?

 

[Sparky 2,862]

Wild stab in the dark, but take out the plug and check the 5th gear detent ball and spring.  How does 5th feel without the detent?

 

On a bright note, you can get to 5th gear/selector assembly by removing the gearbox rear cover, so it's not major.

[tirpsesutol 0]

Thanks Gary. First time working on a tranny. Where is the plug to check that detent?

[Sparky 2,862]

Back of the box, on the left hand side of the rear casing.  It's a plug that can be undone with a hex (allen) wrench.  Behind it is a spring that keeps a steel ball in a detent in the 5th gear selector when it's engaged. You can get the spring out, but may need a magnet for the ball.

 

Is it just 5th that you're having trouble getting out of?  If it's a more general gearchange issue, it could also be wear in the translator mechanism joints.  Follow the cables to find the translator on the rear of the box.  There are rose joints at the end of each cable and at each end of a tie bar on the top of the translator, which itself swivels on bearings.  You should be able to see if these are worn.

[tirpsesutol 0]

Thanks. My other gears work well but the 5th is reluctant to disengage at the shifter.

[tirpsesutol 0]

With a slight push to the right on the stick on my LFHD Esprit and it disengages much easier.

[jonwat 434]

With a slight push to the right on the stick on my LFHD Esprit and it disengages much easier.

Sounds more like a linkage problem to, that's where I'd start looking before messing around with the box.