Gear box treatment

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Discussion

olly

Original Poster:

2,174 posts

291 months

Friday 22nd April 2005
quotequote all
I've got a Mk1 Golf GTI that has been round the world a few times (242,000 miles & still going strong), which has started to get stuck in 3rd gear....

It only happens when sitting in slow traffic, but you put in into 3rd, go to take it out 20-30 seconds later & it's locked solid in 3rd (has happened 4 times now in the last 4 months, although I'm trying to avoid 3rd now). If you leave the car for a long period (8+ hours), and then jump in, it comes out of gear fine.

It has been suggested that the oil ways in the box made have become clogged & that cleaning/degreasing the gearbox with a "Slick50" type treatment may help.

I've been into the local Halfwits & there are a couple to choose from, both doing the same sort of thing.

Has anyone ever used such a product, and if so, any advise which is better, and more importantly, might it cure my sticky 3rd ?

If not, then I've found a local garage who will remove the box, rebuild, and refit for £325, so it's not going to be a massive bill either way.....

Any comments gratefully received.

Alpineandy

1,395 posts

250 months

Friday 22nd April 2005
quotequote all
I think you'd be wise to ask opieoilman.

olly

Original Poster:

2,174 posts

291 months

Friday 22nd April 2005
quotequote all
Will drop him a mail later - thanks

350matt

3,773 posts

286 months

Friday 22nd April 2005
quotequote all
unless its an auto its very unlikley that there are any oil ways to block as 95% of manual boxes are just splash lubricated.

and slick 50 is a waste of time, try an oil change first, but its sounds like that gears synchro is starting to fail.

Matt

GavinPearson

5,715 posts

258 months

Saturday 23rd April 2005
quotequote all
It sounds like the synchro cones are OK but that the dog points on the gears have cut into the sliding sleeve operating third gear.

When the rebuild is undertaken you need a new sliding sleeve.

olly

Original Poster:

2,174 posts

291 months

Saturday 23rd April 2005
quotequote all
Thanks a lot Gavin (& Matt). Looking at your profile Gavin, I think you know what your talking about !

Looks like it's time to book it in for a rebuild.

Thanks again

Olly

deltafox

3,839 posts

239 months

Saturday 23rd April 2005
quotequote all
Well personally if the box is coming out anyway, id just go to my local breakers and get another one for 50 sovs rather than pay 300+ for a recon.

Btw, if you can find em, the Maestro 1.3 uses the very same 020 gearbox as the GTi.
HTH.

olly

Original Poster:

2,174 posts

291 months

Monday 25th April 2005
quotequote all
Did consider doing a box swap, but the car still has the original engine & g-box, so we want to keep it original if we can (it will also (eventually) be treated to a 2.0 engine, so a new box isn't a bad idea).....

I've heard about the Meastro g-box before ! Is it strong enough to cope with GTI power ?

deltafox

3,839 posts

239 months

Monday 25th April 2005
quotequote all
olly said:
Did consider doing a box swap, but the car still has the original engine & g-box, so we want to keep it original if we can (it will also (eventually) be treated to a 2.0 engine, so a new box isn't a bad idea).....

I've heard about the Meastro g-box before ! Is it strong enough to cope with GTI power ?


Yup! Its the very same gearbox as fitted to the GTi's!
Its got one ikkle difference tho.
The driveshaft flanges are different, so if you did manage to get a goodun, youd have to get them swapped over for your existing ones...not a major job tho.
Power rating is 150 bhp all day long on these 020's.

olly

Original Poster:

2,174 posts

291 months

Monday 25th April 2005
quotequote all
Hmmmmm - might have to go crap yard crawling at the weekend - rebuild can wait till we do the 2 litre !

deltafox

3,839 posts

239 months

Tuesday 26th April 2005
quotequote all
olly said:
Hmmmmm - might have to go crap yard crawling at the weekend - rebuild can wait till we do the 2 litre !


If you do happen to find a suitable maestro donor car to take the box from, be SURE its from a maestro 1.3 with the A series engine. The 1.6 wont fit, its a different box as fitted to the montego.
HTH.

olly

Original Poster:

2,174 posts

291 months

Tuesday 26th April 2005
quotequote all
Will do thanks....

(I'm fairly familiar with the box (have got a "spare" one sitting in my garage that went bang on a different Golf a few years ago), so I should recognise it as well)