Floorboard Mystery Solved!

Juju in the Gearbox

Once she was running, it was hard to resist taking our new Rover out. Maggie was not quite legal yet, she had a title, but sported Philipino license plates, and had no insurance. Nevertheless we wanted to take her out some, and see how she handled. There was a field nearby, so we scooted down alleyways until we reached it. Maggie has a different character than Beula. If one can accept that these old beasts have a soul, and therefore personality, Maggie is the red hot mama, while Beula is the prim and proper reserved type. Maggie is incredibly responsive, and steers with a light touch. The two leaf rear Rocky Mountain springs are marvelous!
Early Morning Revelations

We woke up before sunrise to take her out, to decrease the chances of being caught on the road. I also still had the rear flex hose clamped. The first morning we took Maggie out for a spin I learned why her floorboards were removed when I found her. It was impossible to engage third and fourth gear. The bizzare thing was that the gears would not even grind. It was like a gremlin had the opposite end of the gearshift. I tried double clutching, and all permutations of gear selection, without any luck. Strange thing was, I could shift into third and fourth gear at a standstill. So I drove home in second gear, and removed my nicely painted floorboards. I consulted my internet Rover guru friends, and wired the front lights while I pondered.

Cleaning the Shifting Forks Later that day, with the floorboards out, I watched the gearshift as I moved it through the selection of gears. It was not binding at all with the selector rods. The third/fourth selector rod was hardly moving, however. So off with the shifter, out with the detent balls, and off with the selector cover. I removed the shift forks, inspected them, and headed them to the parts washer. Watching things move around in the gearbox, the 3rd/4th synchronizer was obviously binding. I was not sure if it was due to corrosion from having to sit up so long, or a mechanical problem. Where's the juju? At any rate, I sprayed the synchro with Marvel Mystery Oil, turning it and manipulating it in an attempt to get it to loosen up. After a while, the synchro began to operate as advertised, and I retuned the forks to the box, and buttoned things up. I shook my mojo at Maggie's grill.
It was getting dark, but I had lights now, at least on the front, and I could shift into third and fourth gear. I needed a test drive. I sneaked Maggie to the field, rambled around a bit in the twilight, and then found myself stuck in third gear! At least I had left the floorboards out. It was dark. I placed the Rover in every combination of gears in an attempt to free her up. No joy. Still stuck in third gear, I placed her in low range, and headed home in low third. I was no longer in the mood for pictures.
Back in the garage, I dug down into the gearbox again, and yes, it was that damned synchronizer. I lubed and slid things around. I rotated and inspected it, and I noticed a deformed spring clip. (Play that Dragnet music)

A bit more manipulation, and a smattering of luck, and the spring-clip sprang out into the 90wt filled sump. I took a magnet and retrieved it. I pondered. Would the gearbox work without this spring-clip, and for how long? Seems there are bound to be gearboxes that have lost these before. At least my spring-clip could not jam the gears now. The synchro slid effortlessly. I performed a tool and part inventory, (a hold-over from my jet wrenching days), and I buttoned everything back up. It was after midnight now, but I had to know. I took Maggie out one last time, and the shifting was excellent. So now the question is, will anything be harmed by leaving that spring-clip out?

For what it's worth, I am looking for another spring-clip, but I am wondering just how necessary it really is. In the meantime, I will continue to press on with Maggie. Next......the brakes!

Early Morning Rampage
Another Satisfied Owner

Reassembly 101
Please remember that these pages are for entertainment.
They are not a how to guide on vehicle maintenance or restoration.
Reckless experimentation with gearboxes can become expensive.
Just because I took out a part and then kept going
Does NOT mean you can do the same!
You may blow your gearbox to bits.
You may even be injured.
You should always reinstall the same number of moving parts that came out.
If you are the "let's try it and see" type, you may get your ass bit!
For more of this legal CYA stuff, click here.

[ Rover Home ] [ Maggie Home ]
[ Rover Assessment ] [ Steering Straight ]
[ Minimal Wiring ] [ Worth $500? ] [ Fuel Supply ]
[ Idle Thoughts ] [ Tough Decisions ] [ Spinning Wheels ]
[ Stripping Down ] [ The Bulkhead ] [ The Bulkhead 2 ]
[ Maggie's Motor ] [ Chassis Prep ] [ POR15 & Parabolics ]
[ Synergy ] [ The Breakfast ] [ Waking the Neighbors ]
[ A New Look ] [ Test Drive! ] [ Designing Woman ]
[ Mystery Solved ] [ More Juju ] [ Whoa Maggie! ]
[ Finish Line! ] [ Epilogue ]
[ Due Thank Yous ]

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