06/08/2024: Shifting Perspectives.
Ah dang it! Where the hell did 1st and reverse gear go? Yep, something’s going on and this could either be a simple drive way fix or… very costly.
I finish work and set off home, we’ll try to.. 1st gear just isn’t happening. So, I make it home using everything but and then when I pull up outside the yard (my home) I choose to reverse… err nah! Well eventually with what felt like the forced required to pull Excalibur’s sword from the rock, I eventually find reverse.
Hmmmmmmm, scratching my head, is it the box and or clutch that’s died!!? Fuck! I don’t know and it’s going to be a long old job for me to figure out if it’s a mechanical failure or not. But before I start saying bye to my finances in preparation of a new gearbox or clutch there’s a few little things I can check.
Drain both transfer box and gearbox oils and inspect the magnetic drain plugs, if no large metallic debris are visible then that’s a good sign both boxes haven’t shat themselves… result! Oh be sure to replenish the oil you’ve removed, otherwise you’ll for sure end up with problems. - I used a Laser Multi Purpose Mini Pump to fill (4385)
So with both boxes appearing satisfactory, the next thing and what should’ve been the first thing I should’ve inspected was the hydraulic clutch fluid.
Well, well, well…. I think I’ve found the issue and it’s actually pretty obvious in fact. Not only is the reservoir low, but the fluid is jet black!
I attach the Laser brake bleeding kit (2906) in conjunction with the Laser one way bleed valve (7700) and top up the reservoir. Now given there’s a significant amount of fluid missing, this would indicate there’s a leak somewhere and as a result when I depress the clutch pedal the master cylinder is most likely sucking air into the system and not allowing me to select 1st or reverse.
Cracking off the clutch slave cylinder and pumping the clutch pedal whilst occasionally topping up the reservoir, the pedal became firm and the fluid flushed was just suet black. Once satisfied, I nipped the slave bleed nipple and again topped up the reservoir, fitted the cap and took the 110 for a test drive.
The result.. everything feels good. So!, I’ve got a leak somewhere and it’s not entirely obvious where. Given I’m not keen to swap one part out at a time, I’ll assume both cylinders are fubar and replace them.
