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Gear Selection Problem


Jon Ward

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I've done a search, but I want to make sure that I'm covered so that I can hopefully get the engine in and out in a day.

 

The problem occured during the Oulton Park Club track day. I can select all gears when the engine isn't running, but none of the gears when the engine is running. If I start the car in gear, the clutch travel 'seems' shorter than usual and the bite point is immediate. The clutch feels very heavy, but the cable seems OK. It's a bog standard '99 K Series SLR.

 

1. Any ideas what it could be?

2. What parts should I collect to get the job done in a day?

3. Anything else I should do while the engine is out?

 

Thanks in advance,

 

Jon

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when you start the engine with it in gear, can you then deselect the gear? if not then it sounds like a problem I had on a track day when the selector broke inside my gearbox.

 

If engine out I'd check/replace the CRB.

 

 

 

White road legal 2.0 HPC VX race car - stolen with trailer 27/03/09... found 11/06/09 😬... now under repair

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Jon, sounds like you've got a clutch problem of some sort, could be pressure plate, crb or fork.

 

You ought to change the crb while the engine's out anyway so that's a given, pressure plate comes with the friction plate as a set and there are two types of fork depending on wet or dry sump. With any luck you'll be able to diagnose a bendy fork with the engine still in the car to save on the amount of parts you'll have to buy and possibly not use if you want to do the whole thing in a day.

 

Adrian

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With any luck you'll be able to diagnose a bendy fork with the engine still in the car....

 

Why do the dry sump clutch release arms bend? Surely that it indicates that something else is also wrong?

 

What are the normal failure modes of the clutch its self? Surely, if it is worn out it will slip. Do the plates break up which then causes them to drag?

 

How likely is it that the spigot bearing has failed?

 

 

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My money's on it being CRB failure. Did mine a few weeks ago. Much the same symptoms you describe. Took it all apart to find the CRB had collapsed into several pieces. £20 delivered from CC and a few hours with friends taking things apart and putting it all back together again.

 

Steve.

Sussex (West) AR

Not forgetting Percy the Polar Bear who recommends

Puddle Pet Care

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Jon

 

I suspect the clutch fork if you have the Caterham dry sump system and have seen a few of these fail. It could possibly be the CRB or the pressure plate however, you cannot tell for sure until you get the engine out.

 

Good luck and I hope to see you at Curborough

 

Richard

 

The clutch forks fracture and when you see how they are made in comparision to the wet sump fork you will understand why. I think it is unlikely to be the spigot bearing.

 

Mark D

 

 

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I'd originally expected to find my clutch fork bent or broken from the way it failed and comments like Mark's but it was CRB. Not saying Mark is wrong, as he says you won't know until you take it all apart.

 

If you're looking to order parts ahead of removal and want to minimise cost I would only order the CRB as that ought to be replace regardless. If you're lucky that will be all you need and can get on with putting it all back together.

 

Steve.

Sussex (West) AR

Not forgetting Percy the Polar Bear who recommends

Puddle Pet Care

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  • 1 month later...
  • Area Representative

Anthony,

Jon's car is running again.

See here

We finally put it back together on Monday this week.

Jon has had additional welding done to prevent it cracking in the same place again.

 

 

 

Edited by - Richard Price on 9 Sep 2009 15:57:35

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