Qu1ckn1ck

Hello Russ.

Circlip failure on the mainshaft allowing excessive movement of the gears, Pete. There may also have been problems with detent balls and springs. The gears themselves all appeared to be OK. Nick

Collected the GT6 from my friendly mechanic today. Started with gear selection problems and ended up with rebuilt gearbox, rebuilt prop-shaft, new clutch, new engine rear main seal, new engine mounts and a couple of other jobs. Well, it seems silly not to fettle the entire transmission once you have taken the engine and gearbox out.

Brown & Gammons part number GUJ101, price £9.54 ea. This part number seems "universal" to suppliers such as Moss, Canley, Robsport ..... B&G are handy for me to collect so no p+p charges or delivery delay.

Just bought two UJ's this morning for my GT6 from our local MG specialist - just under £10 each. They appear to be common to Midgets, MGB's and many other vehicles as well as small chassis Triumphs.

This guy's Type 9 conversions have bespoke cut and weld modifications to shorten the remote extension and bring the gearlever out in the correct position. He showed me one awaiting collection by a MG Midget owner and it looked very professional..

So if the overdrive was factory fitted as standard to a GT6 Mk3 should the car have left the factory with a tunnel cut out long enough to remove gearbox and overdrive through the cabin ? The tunnel cut out is definitely too short to allow the gearbox to be withdrawn backwards - could a previous owner have added the overdrive gearbox during a rebuild but not cut back the tunnel ? Nick

Just realised that this is basically the same gearbox design that I had sooooo much trouble with in the 1970's. It is now with the gearbox rebuilder who also does a very neat line in Ford Type 9 conversions for Triumphs and MG's. From the various manuals it appears that the gearbox removal can be done by withdrawal into the car. Is this correct for a gearbox with overdrive ? The tunnel cut out is too short to allow that on mine so the engine had to come out to release the gearbox. Nick

I have a very nasty feeling that a circlip on the gearbox mainshaft has failed, allowing the gears to move, just as happened repeatedly in the 1970's to the Triumph gearbox fitted to my then new Morris Marina 1.8 Coupe.

No strange noises at all, no gear teeth crunching or whining - gearbox is totally silent but just refuses to drop down into second gear.

The original thought was clutch so that will be the next area to look at. Clutch, gearbox and overdrive were all working perfectly smoothly until the very end of a drive home from Pirton when second gear baulked as I turned into my own road. Nick

Thanks Pete. It definitely baulks - just will not go into second gear while the car is travelling. Nick

Dismantled the gear selector remote and, despite it looking fine and tight, replaced all the bushes. Also tightened up all the selector forks. This has not cured the fault - the gearbox still will not downshift into second whilst car is moving. Starting to look expensive now. Has anyone any ideas as to where to look next to diagnose and fix the fault ? Thanks Nick

Thanks Pete.

Thanks Wayne, will take a look at that. Have ordered the Canley rebush kit 519770 and hope that will fix the problem without having to remove major components. Nick

I appear to have selector problems which started without warning last night. Second gear could not be selected on the move and fourth and third gear selection became clunky and imprecise. All gears can be selected when stationary but on the move gear lever movement appears odd and second cannot be engaged. Initially I thought that the clutch was not disengaging properly but now I think it is the gear selector. Any ideas or suggestions, please. Nick

Sanders Motor Garage is now occupied by Kwik Fit in Walsworth Road, the upper story is still clearly recognisable. The photo was taken in the early 1920's. The c.1935 picture showing Sanders advertisement is on the Cambridge Road railway bridge.

Another early local Triumph dealer was Ralph E Sanders & Sons Ltd of Hitchin, see back and front covers of "Carriages to Cars".

The Baldock Museum and Local History Society has a museum display at the moment featuring the early motor trade in Baldock. Quenby Bros were Standard and then Triumph dealers from premises in Baldock and their early adverts were featured. Quenby Bros still trade from the same premises in Baldock and have a strong interest in classic cars.

Many years ago I was degreasing engine internal components in a large tray using petrol sloshed from a can and a paint brush. It was a cold winter's night in the garage so I had one of those electric fan heaters on -. Ever been on the wrong end of a flame thrower ?

NLA at Canleys ? http://www.moss-europe.co.uk/anti-run-on-valve-stn127z.html