Technical Noisy first gear

[JeffGainford]

I've got a 126P with a noisy first gear all the other forward gears are good don't know about reverse.

 

[MaluchHunter]

I am not a transmission expert by any means. However, from what I understand the 1st gear isn't synchronized. It may be that over the years of forcing it into 1st gear without matching revs has taken a toll on the entry teeth to the gear and instead of catching and engaging are slipping and causing more grinding down of the teeth.
Try double clutching and see if matching the transmission speed to the speed of the engine doesn't yield better results.

 

[thepuddlejumper]

Hi, I have a 126 and a Gamine with a 126 engine and gearbox and both are a bit noisy in 1st, remember first is not synchro and it is best to engage when stationary. I wouldn't worry provided it's not excessively loud. The main problem I've heard about is jumping out of 1st gear due to, as previously mentioned, crunching into 1st.

Ralph

 

[JeffGainford]

Thanks for the information, but it sounds a bit excessive to me, maybe I'm a bit picky

 

[Toshi 975]

First and reverse gear are the "Achilles heel" of the 500 & 126 gearboxes which is why most main parts suppliers sell a repair kit. The non synchro is often forgotten chipping chunks off the gears if selecting first when the car is moving. If it is very noisy then it will not get any better but if it selects Ok then you can often pull away in 2nd and just use first when you have to.

 

[JeffGainford]

I've no problem selecting any gear it's just noisy in first

 

[thepuddlejumper]

Hi, Have you checked the box oil level as low oil level can cause noise from the gearbox.

Ralph

 

[gadge]

Defiantly check the level as that can be a factor but they are unusually noisey in first due to that straight cut gear. The "normal" noise it should make should resemble the sound a car would make if you floored it in reverse, like a high whine that gets louder the faster you go. The gearbox is a very prehistoric one that was never really improved on as the years went by so a lot of is is early 1960's stuff. 1st really is just there to get you going, once at walking pace 2nd is quite low enough to move around in traffic - almost to near stopping I've found.

 

[JeffGainford]

Thanks I'll give a oil change it says 15/40 in the Haynes manual, but that doesn't seem right

 

[thepuddlejumper]

Hi, I use Fiat ZC90, I couldn't find it some time ago and used an equivalent unfortunately the gearbox whined. I managed to find some and have had no problems since. I believe the equivalent to ZC90 is SAE 80W-90 gearbox oil maybe others have a recommendation as to which oil to use. Don't use an EP oil as it is reported to cause damage to the gearbox.

Ralph

See this thread

https://www.fiatforum.com/panda-classic/55293-zc90-gearbox-oil.html

 

[gadge]

20w/50 motor oil is also excepable to use