Allegro Club International

J Dawson · Posted: Thu May 30, 2013 8:39 pm Post subject: Hard to engage 1st gear from cold

When starting from cold in the morning, I back off the drive onto the road, and cannot get first gear - it is a swine to engage without forcing it. I have tried selecting other gears first before engaging 1st without success. Once it is warmed up I never have this problem. The car has covered a considerable mileage.

Any ideas please - could the remote control need adjusting?
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Austin - you can DEPEND on it!

1976 Allegro 1100 4-dr saloon

Squeak, rattle & roll

M. Irvine · Joined: 21 Jan 2007 Posts: 804 Location: Farnham, Surrey.

With the engine running can you select reverse without any noises from the gearbox?

A or E series engine?

Is there any wear/excess movement in the bush(s) in the forward end of the gearchange reaction rod?

Merv.
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ALLEGRO = Agile, Lively, Legendary, Economical, Genial, Reliable & Outstanding.

J Dawson · Posted: Fri May 31, 2013 4:23 pm Post subject:

A Series engine. It always crunches into reverse, but now I always select 4th and then reverse which makes no noise at all - just slips in smoothly.

I will check for wear in the bush - is that at the gearbox end?

Thanks Merv.
_________________
Austin - you can DEPEND on it!

1976 Allegro 1100 4-dr saloon

Squeak, rattle & roll

M. Irvine · Joined: 21 Jan 2007 Posts: 804 Location: Farnham, Surrey.

Yes, the bush (on an 'A' series) which has the greatest effect is at the gearbox end, fitted to the gearbox casing.

The clutch should, after a very short pause, allow you to select reverse gear from neutral without noise, and I suspect clutch 'drag' is causing the frustration getting first gear. If the clutch is not working correctly this will increase the wear on some parts of the gearbox.

I would check clutch adjustment and correct operation of the hydraulics first, but there are many other possible reasons for the clutch not 'freeing' completely including: wear of the clutch arm, oil contamination of the clutch plate, excessive crankshaft end float, partual seizure of the primary gear, centre plate not moving freely on the primary gear, or even the idle speed being too high.

Merv.
_________________
ALLEGRO = Agile, Lively, Legendary, Economical, Genial, Reliable & Outstanding.

Laurence · Joined: 17 Jul 2007 Posts: 1408 Location: Plymouth

Try bleeding the clutch hydraulics again, there may be just a bit of air in the system, or try pumping the pedal quickly before selecting gear, if it's easier going into gear, that may indicate hydraulics fault.

Check the master & slave cylinder for leaks by pulling back the boot to see if there's fluid present, if it is leaking there, it could draw air in.

J Dawson · Posted: Tue Jun 04, 2013 7:01 pm Post subject:

Hi fellas - first of all I checked the hydraulics for air-locks but this was fine, apart from a weep on the slave cylinder. So I adjusted the clutch return stop and I can now get first gear without using force, and reverse gear crunches considerably less also.

Thanks for the help. Smile

_________________
Austin - you can DEPEND on it!

1976 Allegro 1100 4-dr saloon

Squeak, rattle & roll