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Lotus Europa Forums => Garage => Topic started by: Lyngeled on Tuesday,April 02, 2019, 04:34:02 AM

Title: Gearbox in neutral still engaged?
Post by: Lyngeled on Tuesday,April 02, 2019, 04:34:02 AM
Hi
I tired to lift up one rear wheel to turn the gears but when it's in neutral the engine still turns when the wheels turn, what's that? Maybe it is a synchro ring or it is still in the last gear. I haven't tried to roll the car, today I will do it, then I will see if I can push it in neutral as I could before.

Regards
Title: Re: Gearbox in neutral still engaged?
Post by: Europa73 on Tuesday,April 02, 2019, 05:06:09 AM
HI,

I had a similar thing happen to me.

The issue for me was that a selector fork had slipped and remained engaged when the car was in neutral. 
Title: Re: Gearbox in neutral still engaged?
Post by: surfguitar58 on Tuesday,April 02, 2019, 09:07:14 AM
I had a similar sounding thing happen to me. There is an extended disucssion about the topic here: http://www.lotuseuropa.org/LotusForum/index.php?topic=2710.msg26148#msg26148

I finally used an adjustable broom stick to hold the clutch in while I rocked the car back and forth ion neutral. It didn't take much force to break free and was less risky than turning the starter over in my tiny driveway. Let us know how you make out.

Tom
Title: Re: Gearbox in neutral still engaged?
Post by: Sandyman on Tuesday,April 02, 2019, 09:18:32 AM
Good old broomsticks more than an engine compartment prop.
Title: Re: Gearbox in neutral still engaged?
Post by: jbcollier on Tuesday,April 02, 2019, 12:01:52 PM
First try lifting up both rear wheels.  It's rare but it could have a limited slip diff.  I fit one to mine.

Still a problem?  Then I'm afraid Europa 73 is right and there is an issue in the transaxle.  The engine is not connected to the wheels when the car is in neutral, even if the clutch plate is frozen to the flywheel.  Hopefully you just need to remove the rear cover -- moderately easily done -- to sort the issue.
Title: Re: Gearbox in neutral still engaged?
Post by: 4129R on Tuesday,April 02, 2019, 12:17:01 PM
 Are you sure that the gear change rod is not worn or hitting something and it is actually moving the selector shaft sticking out of the gearbox?

I had a very worn UJ on a gear change long long ago, and selecting gears was luck.
Title: Re: Gearbox in neutral still engaged?
Post by: Lyngeled on Tuesday,April 02, 2019, 12:40:38 PM
First try lifting up both rear wheels.  It's rare but it could have a limited slip diff.  I fit one to mine.

Still a problem?  Then I'm afraid Europa 73 is right and there is an issue in the transaxle.  The engine is not connected to the wheels when the car is in neutral, even if the clutch plate is frozen to the flywheel.  Hopefully you just need to remove the rear cover -- moderately easily done -- to sort the issue.

What would I do when both wheels are up? I think the wheels should turn opposit ways,  but I think I remember that it didn't last time.
Title: Re: Gearbox in neutral still engaged?
Post by: 4129R on Tuesday,April 02, 2019, 01:11:07 PM
If you have an LSD fitted, both wheels will turn the same way.
Title: Re: Gearbox in neutral still engaged?
Post by: 2766R on Wednesday,April 03, 2019, 02:12:01 AM
Good old broomsticks more than an engine compartment prop.

Now that you mentioned it.....
Title: Re: Gearbox in neutral still engaged?
Post by: BDA on Wednesday,April 03, 2019, 06:10:56 AM
Install gas struts from your engine cover. Richard sells a kit or there are plans here: http://www.lotus-europa.com/manuals/index.htm. You won't regret it!
Title: Re: Gearbox in neutral still engaged?
Post by: Sandyman on Wednesday,April 03, 2019, 07:11:48 AM
RD also has a strut kit.
Title: Re: Gearbox in neutral still engaged?
Post by: Sandyman on Wednesday,April 03, 2019, 07:18:36 AM
Back to the original thread. Bobby, any luck with getting the transmission unstuck?
Title: Re: Gearbox in neutral still engaged?
Post by: Lyngeled on Wednesday,April 03, 2019, 03:17:45 PM
No. I tried rocking it but I couldn't feel anything happening. Now I will push out the car to make the floor nicer to lie on, but continue working on the carburetors. After that I will return to the gear box. But I will open the front cover and look into it. I liked to open it up to see what is happening but it is not the best time for me now.
Title: Re: Gearbox in neutral still engaged?
Post by: Lyngeled on Wednesday,April 03, 2019, 03:25:43 PM
BTW I felt something stopping the stick from moving forward a couple of times then it came loose again.

And I use a fiberglass surfer sail batten instead of a broom stick, it suits the car I think 😊
Title: Re: Gearbox in neutral still engaged?
Post by: surfguitar58 on Wednesday,April 03, 2019, 06:38:34 PM
I realized I may have sent you down the wrong path when JB noted a stuck clutch disk would not keep the wheels from turning if the trans is in neutral. Sounds like a different problem.
t
Title: Re: Gearbox in neutral still engaged?
Post by: jbcollier on Wednesday,April 03, 2019, 09:17:31 PM
I dunno, my limited slip diff idea was a bit lame too.  It sounds to me like a linkage issue.  I would disconnect the linkage at the box, shift it into neutral manually and then see what's up.
Title: Re: Gearbox in neutral still engaged?
Post by: Lyngeled on Wednesday,April 10, 2019, 05:39:50 AM
Hello
I have fixed it!  :trophy: It was one of the forks in the rear under the little cover. I just had to figure out how to assemble it again and then it worked. I used both hands and one foot to test.

It went out of the chassis because I couldn't get the rear cover of.
Title: Re: Gearbox in neutral still engaged?
Post by: BDA on Wednesday,April 10, 2019, 06:01:25 AM
Glad you got it fixed! That's got to be a relief!
Title: Re: Gearbox in neutral still engaged?
Post by: Lyngeled on Wednesday,April 10, 2019, 01:50:06 PM
Yes, very much ;D
Title: Re: Gearbox in neutral still engaged?
Post by: Lyngeled on Wednesday,April 10, 2019, 10:46:23 PM
I have an idea of what the cause was, because I had winch lying back there and it was partly resting on the roof going to the gear lever. And I often sit in the trying learn how to use the gear stick. It especially difficult to get into first and second. But last time I couldn't get it into reverse, that was the winch, I think, and that could too have pushed it out one or more of those forks.