The Sprite Forum

I completed the restoration of my 1960 Bugeye about 2 years ago which included a rebuild of the transmission and new clutch and release bearing. We took the car on a tour this afternoon and all was working fine until we got about a mile from our home when it became very hard/stiff to drop into neutral and then verify neutral by moving the shift lever back and forth. It also became difficult to shift into gears 2, 3, and 4. I made it into the garage but now I can't get the gears to engage unless I force it. Is it possible it's just low on transmission fluid? Could it something as simple as the clutch not engaging as it should? ... any initial thoughts?

thanks,
Steve

Steve,

With the engine off can you move the shift lever normally? If so the throw out bearing may have failed.

Rick,
No, the lever is just as difficult to move when the car is off... maybe even more so... It feels almost as if the gears are all out of alignment???

If it is the same with the engine off it's not clutch related. Sounds more like an issue with the remote shifter assembly. Check the oil level, but I doubt that is the problem. Remove the can on the tunnel and then loosen the three bolts on the circular shift lever retainer and see if it loosens up.

thanks Rick... I'll give that a shot and let you know what happens!

Rick,
well, I loosened the 3 bolts on the cover and shift lever moves much more freely and does not seem to be "binding up" like it was before! I was worried it was something to do with the actual gears in the transmission but your diagnosis seems "right on". Does this also mean that some of the inner workings like bushings and plungers are worn and need replacing? I looked on Moss and some of these parts are NA (I'm sure that's why I did not replace them when restoring)... if they need replacing do you have a source for getting them?

Hi Steve,

Under that cover on the left rear side of the ball on the shifter is a plunger and a spring that work as an anti-rattle device for the shifter. I would remove the cover and carefully remove the shift lever. Carefully remove the plunger and spring with needle nose pliers and do your best to keep them from falling into the bottom of the hole. Inspect the ball on the shifter and the socket it sits in for damage. I suspect the plunger and spring may be damaged. Let us know what you find.

Rick

thanks again Rick... I'll be in touch

Another thing to try is to put a bit of grease on the swivel ball of the shifter. It is very seldom but has happened that it helps.
Billm

thanks Bill... it can't hurt...