hey, i am new to this site so i dont know if i am posting in the right section so sorry if i am posting in the wrong section but i need some help. i have a 87 vl and my gear box is playing up. when the car is cold it is really hard to change gears (it is a 5spd manual) but once it gets going it becomes a bit easier but it is still hard. 1st and 2nd seem like something stoping the gear from engaging, i end up having to pull it really hard and it goes it but sometimes the gear grinds (the sound it make when u dont use the clutch) does anyone know what it could be??? ie is it the gear box and what is wrong or could it be my clutch??? any help would be great and maybe prices coz i know nothing about drivetrains oh and anyone in darwin that reads this where is a good place to get it fixed??? thanks

1. Check that you have enough oil in the box, probably a good idea to drain it and put fresh stuff in, that way you know its the right grade too. 2. Maybe your synchros are stuffed aswell if it is crunching. 3. Clutch may not be engaging fully due to worn clutch plate, faulty slave cylinder or broken springs. 4. Check level of fluid in master cylinder located on flywall, seal and/or spring could be gone in that which will cost about $15 if you do the job yourself. Always best to try the cheaper option first of the fluid and oil levels then go from there.

P.S. a moderator may move this to the gearbox section, Let us know how you get on with the repairs.

ok then, thanks for that

No probs.........i just noticed i wrote flywall.....hahaha, there was one buzzin around here till i sprayed it...i meant firewall anyhow.

i thought that sounded a bit strange. ended up getting one of my sisters friends who is a desiel mech to have a look, we towed it around to his place and had a look, the gear box was a total mess, so we are (well he is i am just watching) installing a new one tomorrow ended up finding a r32 gear box in good condition, it came with a 6 months warrenty so me really happy now just hope that is the end of the drama

synchros are stuffed... spose its not a problem now

the whole gear box was stuffed, all the gears were pretty much not their. so the best option was to get a new one, cheaper in the long run well i hope it is

did you need a new tailshaft? I am not sure but guessing they are different to the vl n/a box

i was told by the place where i bought it that it will bolt straight on. the gear box on the vl and the r32 are pretty much the same the only real differnce that i know of is that the r32 can take more of a beating, thats why i got it. if it dosnt go on then yeah have to head back down and get a new tailshaft, or it could just need some minor tweeking to get it to fit.

i believe your speedo will need re-calibrating after the r32 gearbox goes in, other than that it should all bolt straight up.

yeah i thought it would, thanks for confirming it