Hi Graham,
With airfares what they are, I could probably afford to fly you out and back
for the cost my local LBC mechanic would charge me to fix the thing! Then
afterwards, we could drive somewhere for an ale, come back and watch "The
Who concert on the Isle of Wight" on DVD and have you back in time for
breakfast the next morning. Ha ha.
Actually, several listers have been great help. Doug Braun, Joe Curry, Andy
Mace, John Smith and Chris Sharp, to name a few. One of them, Bill Kelly in
New Jersey, gave perhaps the most comprehensive diagnosis in terms that even
I could understand last night. I've reprinted his outstanding comments for
the benefit of others on my web page:
www.ohms.com/spitfire/transmission.shtml
I feel optimistic that I might actually have the problem solved today, if I
get lucky. If not, the gent that I swapped covers with will be returning my
old one so I can make a closer inspection and see if there is any difference
in the two. Bill Kelly seems to have another trick or two up his sleeve if
it turns out that the cover I've been trying to fit is out of whack -- but
at the moment, I doubt that the cover is to blame.
Thanks for your concern and compassion. It helps.
Best wishes,
Jeff
----- Original Message -----
From: Graham Stretch <technical@iwnet.screaming.net>
To: Jeff McNeal <jmcneal@ohms.com>
Cc: List Spitfires <spitfires@autox.team.net>
Sent: Sunday, March 12, 2000 6:29 AM
Subject: Re: Gearbox woes -- admitting defeat
> Hi Jeff
> How I wish I were round the corner I would answer your plea for help,
Surely
> someone else must be hearing that you are asking for help! Have you tried
> asking on triumphs@autox.team.net
>
> Graham.
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Jeff McNeal <jmcneal@ohms.com>
> To: Spitfire List <spitfires@autox.team.net>
> Sent: Saturday, March 11, 2000 11:10 PM
> Subject: Gearbox woes -- admitting defeat
>
>
> >
> > Well, thanks to Chris Sharp and Joe Curry for making good suggestions.
I
> > tried at least half a dozen times today to remove and re-install the
> > transmission cover so that first gear would work. Chris thought that
> first
> > and reverse were engaging simultaneously -- so did Joe. With the cover
> off
> > and the gearshift attached, I ran the linkage through the gear changes
and
> > everything worked the way it should. Going into first did NOT move the
> rail
> > that controls reverse. Then, upon reassembly, I made sure that the
> forward
> > fork goes where it's supposed to and that the first/second selector fork
> fit
> > over the top of the large gear in the rear of the gearbox. I made
certain
> > that the rear selector peg went into the slot for the reverse rail and
> > tightened everything down again. Same deal. All other gears, including
> > reverse, work beautifully. The shifter will go into first with no
> trouble,
> > but the gear will simply not turn. Locked tightly. So now, I guess I'm
> the
> > only person in the world with three forward gears (2,3,4), reverse and a
> > parking gear (formerly 1st). What a drag. I don't relish having to
drive
> > on the freeway to my closest Brit mechanic and paying him $65 an hour to
> > solve the problem. The bitter irony of all this that is just driving me
> > nuts is that prior to swapping the top, the gearbox worked exactly as it
> > should, including first.
> >
> > Best wishes,
> >
> > Jeff in San Diego
> >
>
|