RS Motorsport :: Classic Speed Restored

Hi folks,

Had a bit of a gearbox dilemma over the last week which raises a few questions.

Basically I was having trouble shifting into 2nd and to a lesser extent 3rd, from any gear. Would be fine if you went slowly but no quick shifts allowed without a bit of crunching. A little rev matching worked a treat shifting down but still had to be a bit slow going up.

The only reason I'm here questioning it is that it all seemed to work fine last drive. What I have changed since though is I replaced the nylon shifter saddle bush with one of the heavy duty brass ones to get rid of some slop. These were advertised as needing to have the tips "crimped" around the shaft to secure it but I could see no reason or logic in why that would be necessary other than to stop it falling off when the shifter isn't there, so I didn't. The bush looked a bit different to the old one too but not in a way that would look to matter, I tried swapping it's orientation which didn't make any difference.
Also, the box has been sitting for about 5-6 months unused and has redline shockproof in it which I noticed when left for a long time in a bottle I had (much longer, about 2 years) that particular elements of it settled at the bottom and didn't seem to mix back in well. So I also wondered if the friction package in the oil was not doing it's job well enough on the synchro's. The clutch is definantly adjusted correctly, and I have the quaife clubman SC/CR kit with a rose jointed shifter (not sure which make of shifter).

So my question is, does anyone have any comments and experience on either the brass saddle bushes or the oil under these circumstances that may have been the cause.

Otherwise, I guess it can only be the syncros, which lends another question. I believe I have steel syncros on 1st/2nd, do steel syncros require lapping occasionally or may that be a factor somehow.

Any comments appreciated, would like to have some direction before I take it for another run, or take it apart given the effort and cost of taking it to the track to try things.

Llewellyn

It wont be anything to do with the shift at all but it will be the steel synchros as they don't grip as well as the brass and shockproof Redline will not squeeze out like normal oil allow the synchro to grip properly
I would try changing the oil to a Motul ester synthetic gear oil as it doesn't stick like paint like the shockproof

Thanks Danny, I'll give it a try. I assume if that doesn't fix it then it's pull it apart time.

Are you allowed to run a 5 speed?

Rules say 5 Spd is allowed. And it would make a hell of a difference, I'm a bit tired of running out of gears. Bank account says no right now though, and there's still other things I'd rather get first like better brakes, and some bigger pipes to match the bigger carbs I'm about to stick on.

Bigger head as well?

Yes, bigger head maybe with more cams too...........Damn you... damn you all for making me WANT!

(I need a better paying job)

because if the head you're using with those little pipes wont be big enough in the ports