Well it is kinda hard to tell from the computer chair. You will always hear some gear box ‘’noise’’ not necessary noise to worry about. New and rebuild gear boxes also has some noise but the engine overpowers them. Once the noises are bad, you know it is time to recondition the box. Sometimes you can drive for a long time other times the box gives in quickly.

If it helps, it goes "ccchhhhiivvveeeeeeee" in neutral, more like "sshhhhhhiiiiieeeoooo" in 1st...

Thanks, Viking. It ain't loud, and is usually drowned out by the very quiet engine...

Thats "DEFO" your syncro circlip/spring

Yes it will still change gear, synchro will still work after a fasion if you are driving it and changing gear gently, that ring is there to provide a resistance for the friction clutches/cones to push them together as the pinion moves, as they wear they provide less resistance and so the synchro can be "beaten"

if you try and "snatch" a gear quickly there may be more of a "Brrrt" as the dogs rattle while they come together at un equal speed

id doubt any debri would be left in from previous repair as the box has to be pretty much fully dismantled to effect a repair, at least all the old oil will have been tipped out and any sludge/debri with it.

Sean

Thanks Sean.

I agree - very unlikely any debris was left behind during a rebuild, that would just be too careless! I suspect the 'box is original, which would make it a 100k+ miler. The previous owner was upfront about the bits that had been done, and the parts he'd no knowledge of having been done - the 'box was in the latter category.

You are right about the gear changes; if I drive 'normally', then it's all perfectly smooth. If, however, I change down at 'speed' (all being relative...) from 4th to 3rd as if to use the gearbox for braking, then I do feel a small 'crunch'. A little throttle blip smooths even this out. I don't tend to drive like that anyway - I let the speed fall away and then change down to suit.

I surprised it's working so well, but obviously a rebuild is on the cards.

Thanks all.