Intermittent Gear Selection Issue.....

[Wayne Murray]

Thanks Barry…….hoping it’ll be that simple.
Stay tuned….

You have mentioned that your circumstances doesn't allow you to fix it currently, as you know any way, your kombi is giving you warning signs. Soon to fix the better. Hope you don't mind me saying that Mark. Hope things workout with your other issue as well.

[Oldman]

Thanks Wayne......agree 100%.
It'll be investigated further as soon as I get our other car back.
Currently using the kombi as minimal as possible....which is killing me !!
Unfortunately Sue's Mum is not well and we need a drivable vehicle on call.

[Oldman]

Take the nose cone off the transmission. there is a bracket that holds the jockey stick ball that cracks and brakes and allows movement which might be responsible for your problem.
you can see in the photo where I've put a gussit in the corner of a replacement bracket when rebuilding my trans to prevent this as the original was cracked but not loose.

Hey Rick, slid under and had another good look around today......
If you could answer a few of questions before I start, I'd greatly appreciate your input.

1. Can I remove the nose cone with engine/transmission in place ?
    I'd be putting the bus on stands, working underneath and supporting the gearbox before starting.
    
2. Will there be much Transmission fluid loss ?
    ie. Will I need a catch can ready once I've cracked the nose cone bolts ?
         Or would it be better to drain the gearbox first ?

3. Is the, (potentially cracked), bracket alloy or steel ?
    My welder's capabilities are limited to steel/stainless. 
Any advice , greatly appreciated......

[rstucke]

Hey Rick, slid under and had another good look around today......
If you could answer a few of questions before I start, I'd greatly appreciate your input.

1. Can I remove the nose cone with engine/transmission in place ?
    I'd be putting the bus on stands, working underneath and supporting the gearbox before starting.
    
2. Will there be much Transmission fluid loss ?
    ie. Will I need a catch can ready once I've cracked the nose cone bolts ?
         Or would it be better to drain the gearbox first ?

3. Is the, (potentially cracked), bracket alloy or steel ?
    My welder's capabilities are limited to steel/stainless. 
Any advice , greatly appreciated......

 you can't get the nose cone off in situ but I think you can move it far enough forward to get to the bracket in there.

yes oil will flow out

the bracket is steel

mine is on the hoist at the moment, I'll have a good look tomorrow around the nose cone to make sure it can be done.

[grumble]

Hey Rick, slid under and had another good look around today......
If you could answer a few of questions before I start, I'd greatly appreciate your input.

1. Can I remove the nose cone with engine/transmission in place ?
    I'd be putting the bus on stands, working underneath and supporting the gearbox before starting.
    
2. Will there be much Transmission fluid loss ?
    ie. Will I need a catch can ready once I've cracked the nose cone bolts ?
         Or would it be better to drain the gearbox first ?

3. Is the, (potentially cracked), bracket alloy or steel ?
    My welder's capabilities are limited to steel/stainless. 
Any advice , greatly appreciated......
Mark. I don't believe the nose cone will come off in situ you would be better off removing the box  to work on it. You will be better off draining the oil.
I have a 3 rib manual box with a diff problem if you need it for parts.
Cheers. Les

[Oldman]

Hey Les, many thanks for the advice and offer, much appreciated.
I’ll be in touch if I need parts .

[Oldman]

 you can't get the nose cone off in situ but I think you can move it far enough forward to get to the bracket in there.

yes oil will flow out

the bracket is steel

mine is on the hoist at the moment, I'll have a good look tomorrow around the nose cone to make sure it can be done.

Thanks for the responses Rick, much appreciated.

[rstucke]

Grumble was right
If you could have removed the nose cone mount, that would have given you around 50mm that the cone housing would have moved away allowing access (after removing gear change bits and reversing switch)
unfortunatelly the mount is held on by studs with no way to remove them in situ
So looks like transmission out.

[Oldman]

Goodo, thanks again Rick.....
Better I know now, than when bits are all around me with no end in sight. 

[Oldman]

Ok, update on this issue.....that is now issues ....
Took my bus out to my mechanic to see if he could find out what's going on.
Dropped the engine and separated the gearbox to check the clutch components .
As soon as the gearbox was separated, the needle bearing on the end of the crankshaft just fell apart......great ! 
Looking at the gearbox, with nose-cone removed all components were in place and working perfectly....no distortion or crack in that support bracket.
At the back of the gearbox however, the pinion had play within its bearing - ie the bearing was perfect but there was slop between the pinion shaft and the inner race.
Prognosis is that the case hardening has failed and the shaft itself has started to wear......great....again 

So, everything is now in the parts washer prepping for calibration prior to re-building.
Unfortunately it's not going to be completed, run in with appropriate services prior to Easter, so we've had to cancel our Bus Stop plans.

It never rains, it pours.