Help - difficult to get in gear

[JeffHunt]

My first problem in ages. At the end of a 60 mile drive in the recent hot weather my gear change suddenly got hard to get in any gear. Engagement is harder in first and second, but pretty difficult in 3rd 4th and 5th as well. The clutch pedal feels the same as before and after some crawling around under the car I can confirm that the fork to front of opening measurement is about 25mm and the throw about 12mm.
I can feel some play in the rear gearbox linkage, but my wife says that when I shake the linkage the gearstick does move.
No fluid leaks under or in the car, and as I said above the pedal feels exactly the same as before. Any suggestions for my next checks?

 

[bmnelsc]

I'd check the workshop manual for those measurements but IIRC 12mm is not sufficient movement to ensure complete disengagement of the clutch which is a symptom of hard engagement. WSM also provides measurements for new clutch vs wear limit clutch (worn out clutch). Resolve this ASAP as farting around with "hard to get in gear" is putting a lot of wear on synchros and will rapidly reduce the life of your gearbox.
I had release bearing probs which created gear engagement problems but it was very noticeable on the pedal. If your release bearing was hanging up I suspect you would feel it so next suspects are master/slave cylinder which are checked by measuring clutch travel via the inspection port on the bellhousing and travel of the clutch fork so you can ensure the clutch is releasing fully (your symptoms sound like a dragging clutch ... not fully releasing) . A long shot would be the clutch fork is failing and you are not getting full travel on the clutch compared to the fork at the slave cyl. Not sure that will be visible from outside - perhaps with an inspection camera

 

[Eldavo]

This happened to me when the spiked engagement bolt in the shift linkage on the gearbox came loose. 5 minute job to locktite it back in so fingers crossed this is your issue.

 

[chrisg]

I would start (as a relatively easy) fix considering the hydraulics - if you've never changed either/both of the clutch cylinders this would be a good place to start - the seals can fail internally so you get reduced/ zero pressure but without any external leak.

That plus the gear linkage are you 'easy' fixes before having to pull apart the clutch system.

I'd also drain and replace the gearbox oil & inspect for debris and a metallic/ shimmer across the oil = bronze particles from the synchros wearing

C