Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[chestevj]

Yes, me again, with my Cargo 813! Is changing gear dependent on speed, ie should I be able to change down at more or less any speed? When the gearbox is cold I can get all the gates fairly easily but once warm, 4th to 3rd is tricky, and 3rd to 2nd. Could well be me I know Could this be an indication of a worn gearbox/clutch and if so, how big a job would it be to replace either?

Also can you swap gear levers on 813's for a foward-angled one? I'm not very tall so I have to have the driver's seat quite well forward, which means the gearstick is almost level with my hip. Second gear hence can be awkward though not impossible.

Cheers
Ness

[Johno]

Hello, I hate to say this and I hope you can forgive me but it sounds as though it maybe that you are the problem yourself, most truck gear boxs when cold change different to when they are hot, regards Johno

[chestevj]

Hi Johno - smile, yes of course I can forgive you! I'm quite prepared to believe it's me.... that said a friend drove it over the weekend and they had difficulty too. Hmmm, it's catching, I'll just have to keep at it I guess.

Thanks for your reply!

Regards
Ness

[Harleyman]

Ness,

Spent several years driving Cargos, and from my experience the gearchange was never brilliant. As you'll probably know by now, the first three cogs are fairly low ratios, and then there's a big hike from third to top, so the technique is to run it to near the red-line in third before changing up to top; coming down the box the opposite applies of course and you will need to go as far as you comfortably can in top before making the downshift.

Yes, the gearstick does tend to shove into your left hip. I don't think there's a lot you can do about it.

If you do end up taking the box out I would recommend that you look round for a five or six-speed to replace it, you'll find the truck much easier to drive.

[chestevj]

That's fab - thanks HarleyMan for the advice and info. Much appreciated.

Ness

[Uncle Joe]

More out of curiosity than anything else, are you changing normally, or double declutching?

[chestevj]

Normally

[Uncle Joe]

Try doubling then. A lot of the older 'boxes change better that way. I've only ever driven 1 lorry that didn't need to be doubled, and that sure as sugar wasn't a Ford!

If you've never done it, then get an older (pensioned?) lorry driver to try the truck, and teach you how. Sure beats changing a box!

[chestevj]

Ok, thanks for the advice! I'll try that

Ness