The Triumph Dolomite Club - Discussion Forum

I picked up a Sprint today, and was puzzled I couldn't put it into gear, as is my habit when transporting, any gear, after we'd pushed it onto the trailer. Once home, pushing it onto the drive, it sounded as if the propshaft had been disconnected, as if the gearbox problem, despite the stick showing neutral, had prevented the car being pushed previously. The seller swears he drove it into the garage 16 years ago, but it apparently hasn't turned a wheel since.

Best guesses?

Gearstick put back in wrong place with gearbox in gear (if you cant move stick) If stick moves but won't engage gear, something is broken in the shift linkage.

Steve

Stick moves side to side, but no fore/aft movement in any position

Broken selector fork so its locked in 2 gears at the same time ?

Seized selector rods, but unlikely. But if gear lever is in neutral, why disconnect the propshaft (or is this a red herring)? Neither would seized clutch necessitate this if gearbox is in neutral.

Does all point to something broken internal to the gearbox that is stopping the selector forks moving and the gears from turning, as Tony suggests. Has the top of the gearbox been removed and replaced incorrectly, if that is even possible?

When are you going to tell us the answer Alun?

gmsclassics wrote: ↑Mon Apr 16, 2018 3:57 am
When are you going to tell us the answer Alun?

Around about now!

Took the gearstick out last evening to find reverse had been selected prior to the stick going back in, so effectively the car was in gear, but felt like neutral as standard side to side movement of the stick was still available. I should have worked this out, as I couldn't get the additional sideways movement to engage the reverse gate on the selector.

Further investigation, showing the complete clutch hydraulic system removed and transmission tunnel lose together with prop undone makes me think gearbox removal/a clutch replacement may have been started...the only question is, was the previous owner on his way in, or on his way out...? He claims not to have touched the car since purchase, but the PPO who I know, has told me it was in full running condition when he sold it to the PO!

Other bodging shows starter motor disconnected, fan blades and front ARB removed, expansion tank removed and hose feed sealed with a bolt and jubilee clip

Someone has been telling you porkies it seems!

My guess on this one is someone got so far and realised how easy it is (not) to remove the gearbox without a means of getting the car off the ground high enough and the supporting the weight of the gearbox as it's being removed etc.

back to you Alun.....let us know in due course

Geoff

Well, reconnecting the starter last evening, we had it spinning over with compression...but found the spark plugs also to be missing, so we should have it running next session...

Meanwhile, I brought the hydraulics home to free off and reseal...

xvivalve wrote: ↑Wed May 16, 2018 2:22 pm Well, reconnecting the starter last evening, we had it spinning over with compression...but found the spark plugs also to be missing, so we should have it running next session...

Meanwhile, I brought the hydraulics home to free off and reseal...

You got compression with no plugs in!!! That seems like you have mice nesting in all 4 pots

trackerjack wrote: ↑Thu May 17, 2018 9:01 am
You got compression with no plugs in!!! That seems like you have mice nesting in all 4 pots

Steve’s palms over the plug tubes creating some satisfying farting noises = compression!

Alun, has it still got the electronic ignition? It always ran pretty well when I had it, the only thing I recall was it had a tendency to pink on unleaded so I usually put four star in. The only thing wrong when it left me was the rot, I assumed it would have ended up being used for a reshell. I was most surprised to hear it was still about. One thing I couldn't get used to was the extra wind noise from the Britax roof.
Ian

Hi Ian,

I was going to call you after our text exchange, but the day job has distracted me since picking it up!

Yes, it has a Pirhana module...hanging off the steering column!

It seems solid, but has had some rough and ready welding done in the past! Externally, it looks quite presentable and the exhaust makes me smile as I sold a Janspeed system to Karl Sinclair-Hall in the '90s...and he owned the car before you, so I think I've owned that bit before!!

Had it running sweetly today, replumbed the clutch hydraulics and can now select all forward gears. Suspect a touch of clutch drag preventing selecting reverse, so next job is reconnect the propshaft and to get some load on the clutch plate.

Disappointed to assess how much wiring is missing.

Cooling system took nearly 3 litres!