austin ulster replica

[Robert Leigh]

I've just acquired a 1936 Ulster having no experience of pre-war cars and I have number of queries for which any advice would be welcome.
1. the car jumps out of first gear, which I was told is normal. Is this actually the case and if not does it indicate significant wear in the gearbox ?                                                                                                                                                                                     2. the car judders violently in reverse; clutch problems or engine mountings ?                                                                                     3. what are the correct tyre pressures ?                                                                                                                                           4. does anyone produce copies of the original owners manual or something similar ?

I think that's enough for now, though I'm sure there'll be more. All help gratefully received.

Lawrence Forrester

Jumping out of first gear is not normal, unless you have a broken selector spring which is almost certainly your problem. They are straightforward to change, by removal of the selector shaft (the one on the right for first gear). It is very easy to drop the locating balls and springs into the gearbox unless you are very careful, but they usually come out easily with a magnet on a pole or by upturning the gearbox. To save having to repeat the excercise it is worth changing all three while you have access, and the second two are easy once you have leaned how to do it on the first! Be careful to check for easy selection of all gears; the selector rods have to be set in just the right place, so that the lever moves completely smoothly across the gate,
Robert Leigh