1.4 zr gearbox problems

[Jona]

Hi all, don't know if any of you have had this problem, or can advise. My wife's baby ZR has suddenly started jumping out of 2nd. There has been no warning, no noises or previous problems. The car has only covered 70k miles, not bad for a 51 plate. If the gearbox has to come off, does anybody have any advice on weather to replace it with the same, or use another model gearbox, for example a BRM Torsen with close ratio?
Cheers

[DarthRaiden]

That be the R65 box for you (for the age of the ZR). Engine mounts go soft with age so under acceleration it can jump out of gear.

If swapping the box to a PG1 (which the BRM box is), the flywheel needs changing, as does starter motor, clutch and gear linkage.

[Jona]

Assuming the engine mounts are the problem, presumably if I replace them the fault will be cured? Funny I just started like that, unless a mount has failed. Literally we have never had a problem and now it won't hold second at all...

[ROD ARNOLD]

that be the r65 box for you (for the age of the zr). Engine mounts go soft with age so under acceleration it can jump out of gear.

If swapping the box to a pg1 (which the brm box is), the flywheel needs changing, as does starter motor, clutch and gear linkage.

so does this mean the engine movement may be knocking it out of gear ??

[DarthRaiden]

so does this mean the engine movement may be knocking it out of gear ??

Yes, engine twists under power. Sounds like what dad had when we had a R65 box in the rally car, he stiffened the mounts and it stopped. But as thats a 1800 now, its got a PG1 too.

[Jona]

I had a look under the car and in the engine bay, nothing seems to be out of place. I pulled the sump back and forwards while I was under the car and noted a bit of movement in the stabiliser bar bush so have ordered a couple of powerflex bushes, it's the quickest, easiest, cheapest option. I did note that one of the drive shaft oilseals have been weaping so will need changing if this works, but there is not enough oil to suggest the gears are running dry. Failing this, it's a replacement gearbox I guess. Will keep you posted, thanks for replies.

[Jona]

Hi all. Gearbox update.
I tried changing the bushes on the stabilizer bar but unfortunay this didn't help. I sourced an r65 gearbox from a 25, I am lead to believe this is thesame as the baby zr. Dropped it in sat and the problem has gone. Don't know if it's relevent, but the day the gearbox failed, the zr took a shunt to the tow bar in the carpark. My wife always parks it in gear, but can't remember if it was second or not, possibly the shock damaged it??? Anyway sorted now till the next thing.

[BRMFUN]

Good work!!!

[Seabart]

Just out of curiosity: can't you take the gearbox apart to see what failed or aren't you that bothered?

[Jona]

I still have the box, but not taken the time to strip it. Must admit to being curious but in reality will probably just end up weighing it in. Had it been a brm box, now that would have been a different matter. Just counting my lucky stars it wasn't!!!