Hi.found a 2cv local to me only fit for parts as so rotten,owner told me it was laid up after getting stuck in reverse,told me its a common fault and needs rewinding,just wondering is it common and whats rewinding

The gearbox is stuck in reverse because the car has probably been driven flat out in reverse and stopped suddenly at some point,probably the last time it was used.I'm sure someone will be along shortlyto advise on how to unwind it.It involves stripping the gearbox and unlocking a jammed nut somewhere in there

rustygubber,
the gearbox does not need to be dismantled, just the top cover removed.
The selector ring which has unwound has to be rewound onto the 2nd/3rd sliding pinion.
( Capitals and bold are for the benefit of anyone who has been misled by a letter in last month's magazine. )

The problem is that it doesn't take long to demonstrate how to do this 'live', but can involve pages and pages of emails trying to talk someone through it online and I don't have the time to spare at present...

Also worth mentioning that this problem can be avoided by peening/staking the errant selector before the thing works loose, a job which takes barely an hour with the gearbox in the car, even less with easy access such as during a chassis change...

ken


Closer view, peening selector ring to prevent 'unwinding'. by slcchassis, on Flickr



Peening g'box & replacing mainshaft bearing by slcchassis, on Flickr

saw that one on ebay, for £600,
was quite interested in it as a bit of a hack about,
rustygubber, im sure theres a post from russell early in in the tech sech about this,,
ill even find it
viewtopic.php?f=7&t=205

R-U-S-S-E-L-L.

A-P-P-O-L-O-G-I-E-S
just woken up from a snooze and rather sleepy

Apologies.

sorry to thread hijack... but stupidly enough i got pops stuck on a dirt road last month and whilst trying to get her out the gearbox locked up whilst i was in reverse, couldnt move gearstick... think it was jammed in 4th... all i had todo was raise the revs, pop the clutch and tug on the gearstick and she came out of it and did this twice... when i was being towed out of the field the gearbox locked up again (towed backwards) but when the car was then towed forwards i did the same, popped the clutch whilst it was rolling forwards and the gearbox unlocked and i've been driving it since and havent had any problems!

Nothing like living (or driving) on the edge...

ken