Hi. My blackbird engine will no longer go into 1st gear. All forward goes into neutral. In the 750MC race on Monday the engine was ticking over but I was getting no drive whatsoever. Looks like my gearbox is stuffed.

How big a deal is it to source and replace the gearbox on these engines?

In case the problem goes deeped with the engine, any thoughts on whether exhaust manifolds and engine mounts have changed materially between a 2000 injected engine and later years?

Sounds more like a selector problem... easy'ish and cheap'ish to fix. When stripped down look for the buing and familiar burnishing of the selector face. It should have a couple of slightly proud lugs - if not it's buggered and will need replacing.

Steve

Thanks. Anyone happen to have a photo of what it should look like?

I broke the gearbox on my blackbird and replaced it with 2nd hand bits. Cost me around £200 for a gearbox.

U2U me if you need any parts as i have a couple of spare engines in the garage that Ive got stripped and may be willing to sell a gearbox/gearbox parts.

Carnut

Thanks. I will see how we get on in finding the problem and come back to you.

Turns out it was the gear shift linkage. Had been built poorly out of flexible hollow pipe and had lots of flex leading to eventual failure.

[Edited on 2/5/06 by jecuk]

Thats good news. Better than any engine strip.

quote:

---

Originally posted by jecuk
Turns out it was the gear shift linkage. Had been built poorly out of flexible hollow pipe and had lots of flex leading to eventual failure.

[Edited on 2/5/06 by jecuk]

---

Well yes. Still a disappointing reason to have to drop out of my second ever race with two laps to go though!!

Nonetheless, better than open-engine surgery.