difficulty selecting 1st gear

[Jim H]

got a S reg smiley swb with 45k on the clock. i have real dificulty selecting 1st gear but only when stationary. the clutch is adjusted so it bites quite near the top so does anyone now what`s wrong?

[madmark]

mate it is poss that you need a new clutch before you damadge the gearbox! get expert opinion! ,when i had my mk3 it had done about 60k and was sufering with the same problem!

[Mike Bambridge]

Had exactly same problem on my 96 Smiley.Bit the bullet and changed theclutch (a struggle single handed on axle stands) Result, a change as slick as a slick thing thats been dipped in hot butter and rubbed with Vaseline as they say !

[MrMPuk]

You seem to have a way with words Mike, I like it!

[Jim H]

clutch it is then. thanks lads.

[baconsdozen]

It's also possible the gearbox input shaft is trying to bind in the spigot bearing.

[FredTransit]

Welcome Mike, you do seem to have silver tongue!

[gazza]

when you do your clutch it is a good idea to replace the input shaft bearing and crankshaft seal, my bearing was shagged and the shaft had worn slightly, get the bearing from a bearing supplier, i think it is a 6202rs but dont quote me on that, best to check it when you take it out, this will cost about £5, get the seal from fords i think this was about £16, whip the flywheel off bang the new seal in now thats the easy bit done. the input shaft bearing is a bit of a pig to get out as you can only pull on the inner race of the bearing, if you havent got an internal bearing puller you can make a very heath robinson one by using a 10mm set screw a socket and a big nail, you need to grind half the bolt head off of the length 90 degrees to the head if you see what i mean, then grind it so it fits inside the bearing, you then need to grind half the head off the nail so this fits inside the bearing and beside the 10 mm bolt, once it pulls up againts the innerace of the bearing weld the two together, then pass the socket over the threads of the bolt (the socket needs to be bigger than the bearing) pop a washer and nut on the end and carefully tighten the nut making sure it stays square to the bearing, this will pull the bearing out. pop your new one in and jobs a good un. if the shaft is a bit worn there is plenty of room in the crankshaft and input shaft to take a shim made to fit behind the bearing, thus pushing the bearing onto a new un-worn part of the shaft,