Sticky Gearbox

[Chunkychops]

I had a look through the forums and couldn't find anything on this.

I'm having a job selecting second gear when the engine is cold. Going from first to second or down from third is crunchy. I usually have to start out in second until everything is warmed up, then it gets a bit smoother but still not right.

I've had the gearbox oil drained and re-newed and the clutch seems to have plenty left on it. There were some metal fragments in the oil. When it's cold I'm having to take it out of first wait a moment then drop it into second to avoid the crunch. It's not a major problem cos I've got used to it.

Just wondering if anyone else has the same issue and what's causing it? It's a 1981 2.0 5-speed.

[darrellw]

What are you using in the gearbox?

Darrell Walker
66 TR4A IRS-SC CTC67956L
81 TR8 SATPZ458XBA406206
Vancouver, WA, USA

[whitenviro]

Mine does that when very cold; it tells me I should warm the car up more before just driving off. I gather we're supposed to change the gear oil out to something lighter, but haven't done it yet.


[/img]
1980 Pageant Blue DHC with removable hardtop.

[saabfast]

Sounds like a standard 5 speed box. They always need to warm up for a decent change. BL change the oil from hypoid to ATF, partly to ease the cold change. I still use ATF (spec as handbook) but many have changed to modern MTF which is supposed to be good for them. Try a search and there are many threads on the subject.

Alan
Saab 9000 Stg 1
Saab 9000 2.3 FPT Auto
'81 TR7 DHC

[Chunkychops]

I've been using Halfords EP 80W/90 GL-4 Multigrade.
It didn't make any difference when I changed the oil.

I guess it's an age thing. Worn components.

[HDRider]

The 5 speed boxes are all baulky when cold if you use normal gear oil. Triumph recemended ATF (Dextron II) but a lot of people including myself have changed over to synthetic oils.

Personally I used Redline MTL which has transfomed the gearboxes. Second gear in my wife's car felt terrible prior to the change. It now almost feels like I rebuilt it.

Edward Hamer
Petaluma CA

[REPLIC8]

I'd recommend changing to Castrol SMX-S synthetic gear oil, EP90 is no good at all. I put SMX-S in my box last year and it it changes gear just fine. You can get it in Halfords, it's quite expensive but well worth it.

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_209375_langId_-1_categoryId_255220

Andy
1981 UK SPEC TR8
[img][IMG]http://i473.photobucket.com/albums/rr92/REPLIC8-2008/175-1.jpg[/img][/img] [img][IMG]http://i473.photobucket.com/albums/rr92/REPLIC8-2008/pics005.jpg[/img][/img]

[Chunkychops]

Thanx, will ave to try that.

[Jolyon39]

This comes up every 10 days or so

here is the last thread on it from 9th October
http://www.forum.triumphtr7.com/topic.a ... C_ID=15604

and page 3 of this one
http://www.forum.triumphtr7.com/topic.a ... C_ID=15621

and here is a photo of the fluid that people are recomending (Odds Photo of the products)



Jolyon

[Workshop Help]

Why am I the first one to recommend the writer use the Search function at the top right of the screen to seek the many articles on 'gear box oils'?

Did you know I changed my engine and gear box oil last weekend? It shifts just like it's supposed to do, a light motion with a delightful mechanical feel. That Pennzoil gear box fluid is worth every penny of the $7.99US per quart bottle. With the gearbox full after 1 1/2 bottles, the rest is left over to be used the with the next gearbox flush, and I'll only have to buy a single bottle.

Mildred Hargis

[FI Spyder]

I had switched to Pennzoil Synthetic but while somewhat better when I changed to the cheaper Pennzoil Synchromesh (the recommended oil) it's fine now. In the mean time if you double clutch into second that will work as a stop gap. Double clutching is a technique that was used in none syncromesh transmissions but not many know what it is now unless they drive really old cars.



- - - - TR7 Spider - - - - - - - - 1978 Spitfire - - - - - - 1976 Spitfire - - 1988 Tercel 4X4 - Kali on Integra - 1991 Integra - - Yellow TCT

[Jolyon39]

I searched in New Zealand for Penzoil today.

Apparently Penzoil has withdrawn from export and will only be available in the USA. (Shell owns the company) It is definately no longer available in New Zealand or Australia.

Very expensive here but worth it) at $24.00 per litre (1 Litre (L) = 1.0566 Q)

= say US$19.31 a quart or there abouts

I am off to buy about 8L right now before they run out, already the 20L tins are sold out.

Jolyon

[darrellw]

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Century Gothic, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by Jolyon39</i>

= say US$19.31 a quart or there abouts

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

That doesn't actually sound <i>too</i> out of line, if I recall correctly I paid $12 US per quart a few months ago here in the US.

Darrell Walker
66 TR4A IRS-SC CTC67956L
81 TR8 SATPZ458XBA406206
Vancouver, WA, USA

[Odd]

I paid SEK 125* per quart bottle for the 12 bottle box I bought this August here in Sweden.
* Roughly USD 23

[HDRider]

I paid about $50.00 per gallon here in the USA for RedLine MTL.

Edward Hamer
Petaluma CA