When I got my sprite on the road a few months ago, I discovered this and
ever since it has been second nature. I found myself doing the same
technique on other modern cars which have a 1st gear syncro. But I tought
that the difficult 1st gear selection was becuase the clutch wouldnt let
disenguage ALL the way. I tought that perhaps it would still stick\rub just
enough to keep you from shifting to first. Shifting to second seems to stop
what ever is spinning long enough for you to get to first. Perhaps I'm wrong
I dunno. Any insight is always helpful.
>Dave,
>
>You have just described almost perfectly the technique I have been using to
>shift my Sprite for thirty years, to the point where the action is
absolutely
>automatic and unconscious (insert "unconscious" joke here.) I never try to
>shift directly into first. Sitting at a stop in neutral, I depress the
clutch,
>pull *back* on the gear shift lever until I feel it just "kiss" the second
gear
>synchro, then forward into first neat as can be. No grind, no graunch, no
fuss,
>no muss.
>
>Regards,
>Jim Algar
>Valencia, CA
>'69 Sprite Mk. IV
>
>
>Dave O'Neill wrote:
>
>> Midget & Sprite Club - http://www.mgcars.org.uk/midgetspriteclub
>>
>> Philip
>>
>> Sounds like you haven't got a problem, at all.
>> The design of the Sprite gearbox is such that it is often difficult to
>> engage 1st or reverse, as they are "crash" gears as opposed to
constant-mesh
>> with synchromesh, and the gears sometimes baulk. If it won't go in, try
>> taking your foot off the clutch - thus spinning the laygear - depress the
>> clutch again, select 2nd gear and then 1st. Yes it is a bit of a
performance
>> but that's what you get for buying a car with "character"!
>>
>> Dave O'Neill
>> Solihull, UK.
>>
>> ----Original Message Follows----
>> From: "Philip Gomm" <tedgomm@tedgomm.f9.co.uk>
>> To: <midgetspriteclub@listbot.com>
>> Subject: Dificult 1st, gear selection.
>> Date: Sun, 7 Nov 1999 19:47:57 -0800
>>
>> Midget & Sprite Club - http://www.mgcars.org.uk/midgetspriteclub
>>
>> Can anyone please help,
>>
>> I have just obtained my 1st sprite, 1965 Mk3. I am now having problems
>> selecting 1st gear, it's OK when cold, and OK when fully hot, however,
>> after the first few miles selecting 1st or reverse gears can be very
>> difficult , seems as if the clutch is not fully disengaged.
>>
>> The clutch seems to disengage OK, could it be the gearbox oil, or be a
>> selector problem.
>>
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