Gears Difficult To Engage

[davemar 16]

Over the past couple of weeks I'm beginning to struggle to engage gears, both getting in and out of gear. It seems worse when the car has warmed up. The movement of the gearstick feels fine, so it's just that last push to engage it. I keep adjusting the clutch cable to raise the biting point which helps a bit, but I'll soon run out of thread. I'm not getting any clutch slippage, or funny noises. Could it be the release bearing on the way out or something else?

 

The car is a 205 1.9 GTi with an Mi16 engine, clutch & flywheel with a 1.9 BE1 gearbox.

 

 

[Anthony 1,000]

Check the clutch arm quadrant isn't bending and that the gearbox isn't coming away from engine (lower rear bolt in particular)

[toolie72 67 1 Cars]

As above (I lost the rear bolt-cap head-somewhere!!) had about 1mm of a gap between engine and box (at its widest) but enough to make it feel as though you wouldn't even get out of gear

[davemar 16]

Check the clutch arm quadrant isn't bending and that the gearbox isn't coming away from engine (lower rear bolt in particular)

You've got an echo in there!

 

As the picture shows the culprit is pretty obvious! At least it is an easy thing to replace and I haven't got to fanny around taking the gearbox off.

[davemar 16]

A bit of hammering and welding, and the arm is back in shape. Back on the car now and the gear changes are back to normal. Not a penny spent which is even better!

[dcc 855]

Theres usually a reason they bend... Personally id hit it back and weld it. But more likely to be other bits requiring attention

[jackherer 543]

I agree, it's worth keeping an eye on. A while back I straightened one and welded it up and everything seemed fine initially but shortly afterwards the ball joint inside the gearbox that the paddle pivots on came away, it's only held on with rivets.