1st gear pops out

[plasnart]

Hi all,

Have a '01 GU 4.2TD wagon and 1st gear pops out when under compression. I can see the gearstick slowly coming down, then "pop" into neutral. I can hold it in but this is not good when i need two hands on the wheel. No problems when under power, only happens when under compression. Does anybody know what is causing this and does it sound really bad (expensive)?

[MyGQ]

Possibly the Syncro is dead and allowing it to fall back or your mainshaft bearings are worn and its allowing the mainshaft to move.

this happened to my old mav in 3rd

[turps]

I had the same thing happen on my old shorty. I think it might have something to do with the nylon ball wearing out. I never fixed mine. Insurance company got it first.

[plasnart]

Thanks guys. Hey turps, what do you mean when you say the nylon ball? Could you please explain this to me? Where is it, what does it do and do you know if its expensive to fix?

[Woop]

I think he means the nylon ball on the bottom of the gearstick. Ages and gets sloppy not allowing full gear engagement. Also the gearstick seat can suffer the same problem

Nick

[plasnart]

Thanks Woop. I'll check it out. The car has only done 135k and the gearstick isn't really loose so i would be surprised but i'll check anyway. it really feels like it is being squeezed out from within the gearbox but i don't know how that happens.

[turps]

My old shorty was on 470000km, but had a gearbox change at 330 000km. So not sure how many kays the gear box had. But was told that some times the nylon ball at the bottom of the shaft wears and gets slop in it. Supposedly it is possible to tighten them I just dont know how to do it.
My 5spd also wouldnt go into 2nd very well, popped out of 3rd also and leaked oil when used in 5th.