Lost 1st-2nd gear, then got stuck in 1st?

dabigboy · #1 (**permalink**) 11-03-2009, 06:32 PM

Hi all, got a little problem with my '83 Spider. I was driving back to work today and my 1st-2nd went out. I could shift into the correct positions but it didn't feel like anything was happening (very little resistance). So I loped back to work on 3rd-5th. Then at one point I noticed that when I shifted to 3rd, the car could not roll and the engine slowed down as I started to let the clutch out. It remained like that all the way back home later (had to cruise slowly in 1st).

So, if I shift to 1st, 2nd, or leave the stick in the neutral position, I find the tranny is actually in 1st. If I try to shift to any other position, the wheels can't roll and the engine can't turn the tranny, like everything is frozen in there. I seem to remember reading about problems like this on the board here but I can't find a relevant thread now. I initially assumed a broken fork, but I also read something on here about the syncros possibly just getting out of track if they have a lot of wear and aggressive shifting is used (I try to baby my tired old tranny but sometimes I am a little rough on it).

I'm hoping someone on the board here has seen the problem before and can tell me what's needed.....I have planned a tranny rebuild for a long time but have been waiting until I have the funds together to do it right.

Matt

**hotlegs32** · #2 (**permalink**) 11-03-2009, 08:29 PM

You have a broken shift fork bolt in 1-2. Do not drive the car untill you R and R trans and repair it. Right now no major damage. I have seen a transmission literally explode due to a situation similar to this. Transmission engaged 3rd but still in 2nd due to broken shift fork bolt.

**Geezer** · #3 (**permalink**) 11-04-2009, 10:16 AM

I vote for a broken shift fork or the fork set screw has come loose and backed out.

crashmctavish · #4 (**permalink**) 11-04-2009, 12:19 PM

shift fork bolt loose, do not drive car or run engine, remove gearbox & overhaul. Allow about £200 for parts.
Regards Keith

dabigboy · #5 (**permalink**) 11-04-2009, 12:33 PM

Thanks guys, I knew the more experienced Alfisti here could steer me straight. I was actually worried about driving it with the tranny messed up, but didn't have a lot of choice at the time. Let's see, if my currency conversion in my brain is right, that's about $350 US? Not as bad as I'd anticipated. Are you talking about just fixing the problem, or R&R'ing the tranny overall? I'm going to try to do a good R&R on it when I do take it apart. It was grinding going to 2nd anyway if I didn't double-clutch, plus it's nearing the 100k mile mark.

Matt

Alfacliff · #6 (**permalink**) 11-04-2009, 01:37 PM

I had a 63 ford do that to me, it ran out of oil in the transmission. lost 2nd forever, only 1st and 3rd worked after that. also no reverse. just drove it that way for a few years till it was wrecked. should have replaced the trans, but too cheap at the time.

crashmctavish · #7 (**permalink**) 11-04-2009, 01:40 PM

Yeah that sounds about right, its not a difficult gearbox to rebuild if you have done one before. Do not lose the interlock beans when you strip it. attempt to fit a synchro on 1st while you are in there. replace 2nd synchro for definate. replace clutch & drive doughnut while you are in there. Bearings and synchros seem cheap but tend to add up! classicalfa.co.uk or alfaholics are good. both do mail order. Its a great winter project! All the answers are on the bb under transmissions and in the manual.

**Spider77rebuild** · #8 (**permalink**) 11-04-2009, 08:07 PM

Yes this happened allso But I started out in 1st than 2nd and when I went to 3rd it did the same thing you talk about Like it was in two gears at once. I got my shifter out and could move the rod back and forth. but it would just stay in 2nd gear. I broke off or the bolt that was holding the 1st and 2nd geear shift fork to the rod came out. .Please take time to read a lot of post on the board about changing things . As posted above. You can turn some around and replace some of your synchros. . I am doing this now , Oh ya dont forget to take a lot of pics this could help , IAP has the manual this is a must , but all in all so far ist not to hard. good luck, let us know how it goes

**vf31rhill** · #9 (**permalink**) 11-05-2009, 09:24 PM

All the above advice is correct. Your shift leaver is no longer moving the 1-2 shift hub back and forth between 1, neutral, and 2. This is due to the shift fork pin coming loose or breaking, or the shift fork itself breaking. Your transmission is permanently in 1 and if you use the 3-4 gate to put it into one of those geards, or the 5 and rev forks to select one of those gears, you have now put the transmission in two different gears at the same time. This is an impossible situation and will stall the engine, blow up the clutch, or blow up the transmission if you try to force it.

Bottom line, R&R transmission and pull it apart to see what is going on. If you are lucky and have not damaged anything else in the process of trying to get it back to work or home, repairing the 1-2 shift fork problem should restore the transmission to whatever it's previous condition was. Of course, while you have it out and apart it will be a good time to replace the weak 2nd gear syncro and have a look at the clutch parts. You can take replacing things "while I am in there" to extremes if you want to get carried away or have a lot of extra money you want to spend.

Best advice is to get it out and apart, assess the situation, and then return to this BB for advice on what to do next and how far to take your repair.

Good Luck, Robert
1988 Black Spider Veloce