333 gearbox detents

[Aginley]

Advice on removing the detents? Can it be done with the engine fitted? Freshly built engine and gearbox but sat in the garage for two years waiting for the body shop to paint.
See photo and I’ll post a video of problem.
Any advice appreciated hopefully don’t need the engine back out

[Aginley]

https://youtube.com/shorts/ly7fxq_OOEc? ... SJh5t0rbsL

[Ronnie]

Small dia magnet > https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/235784868345 ... R4irgq7gZA it may be necessary to squirt some solvent down to thin the oil film. Some cheap Chinese screwdrivers have such a magnet to keep the 1/4" bits in place.

[Peter Laidler]

Yes, a magnetic probe will pull the detents out

Added later: Friend Clever TRevor nearby, reading this says that you can pull them out with the nozzle of a good powerful vacuum cleaner nozzle.

[Aginley]

I’ll try find a magnet tomorrow. Is it common they get stuck? Once out is it just a case of lubricant?

[360gts]

Just wondering why, you need to do this?

Not an easy job as the holes may have a small burr at the end of the threads..
If you do meet resistance....take a drill bit and just try inserting by hand and gently turning to clear any burrs.
Yes, can be done...patience....you will only be able to get the top two out....the third one is behind a selector rod.

[Ronnie]

I’ll try find a magnet tomorrow. Is it common they get stuck? Once out is it just a case of lubricant?

It can be debris out the gearbox make Shure that it is clean and smooth out any scoring or burs, check with the plunger for free movement.

[Aginley]

Update, got the detent out on both shafts and also the reverse detent. No improvement unfortunately.
I’ve literally got 1st gear and neutral, can’t select anything else? Any ideas?

[Polarsilver]

Take your Gearbox to Jason ( he is on the Forum ).. the best man for any Mini Gearbox work in my opinion

[Aginley]

I was hoping not to have to take the engine out again

[360gts]

I was hoping not to have to take the engine out again

OK, now we know that you cannot select any gears other than 1st.
How on earth did you get the third detent out!
Couple of questions.
Do you know if the selector rods actually move back and forward when you try to select a gear?
what happens when you try to select 2? Does it grind? Does the lever actually move the full distance.
I'm afraid we need more information....

[MiNiKiN]

Update, got the detent out on both shafts and also the reverse detent. No improvement unfortunately.
I’ve literally got 1st gear and neutral, can’t select anything else? Any ideas?

Daft question, but have you got oil in the engine? I could not select any gear after my engine rebuild. Only after filling with oil and the first start up it was possible to engage the gears.

[Aginley]

Yes did have oil in and started and ran up to temperature..
Removed the oil so i could get the detents out.
If you see the YouTube video it hasn’t changed since that.
So it selects first only. I have had it running in 1st on the axcel stands and it doesn’t engage any other gears. If you pull hard enough it slightly grabs second but doesn’t engage properly. The gearstick won’t move across the gate towards 3rd and 4th ..

[roger mcnab]

hi maybe the gear shift is not assembled correctlyjust a remote possability cheers roger

[Peter Laidler]

Ah, Aginley, your last comment has just struck a cord with my memory banks.... A couple of forumers here and me have faced a similar problem...... Something is jamming up the front end of the remote housing linkage that will not allow a clean gear selection.

In mky case it was a 'lost' fuel bownn cover screw that had fallen down and dropped into the small gap at the front of the remote housing. Caused me anguish for weeks on end. Took it off ans found the little bastard, all mangled up but still able to prevent a smooth gear change and even the selection of gears.

When it was apart, I also found one of the earlier 'lost' brass exhaust manifold nuts. This was even bigger but wasn't causing any concern.

Check this likely cause before you go any further

[swifty]

I build my gearbox’s and have done so for many years . Intrigued how you could possibly remove all the detents . ? Please explain and educate me … Shirley

[360gts]

I build my gearbox’s and have done so for many years . Intrigued how you could possibly remove all the detents . ? Please explain and educate me … Shirley

I asked the same question....how did you get that third detent out??????

[imack]

Somethings wrong in the box if he's managed to get that 3rd detent out without a full strip down.
I can only imagine he means he's removed the plunger from beneath the big nut on the front of the gearbox.

[Aginley]

I may have mis understood, I’ve removed the reverse detent which is the big nut under the oil filter.
Also the two detents on the picture above ? All 3 came out with magnets. Any others I’m missing before I have to remove the engine?

[Peter Laidler]

Have you checked for the obvious obstruction at the front of the remote housing.........?