4 replies to this topic

[dansalter]

mayfair
1989

i was driving home yesterday when i went to change gear at a roundabout, the gear leaver just floats around and it won't let me change gear. i ended up driving home in fourth

i think it's the gear linkage gone but i don't know where to start or look.

any help would be appreciated

Dan

[Purple Tom]

Sounds like a roll pin has come out of the gear selector mechanism. Jack (and securely support) the front end of the car up, and have a look at the bottom rear of the gearbox. You should see two rods protruding from the gearbox and heading towards the back of the car, these are the gear selector rods. The upper one is purely to keep the linkage secured to the engine, and the lower one is to move the selector mechanism which protrudes from the back of the gearbox. There is a collar which links the rod to the gear selector mechanism and this collar is held onto the selector mechanism and selector rod by two roll pins, one of which I reckon has dropped out as they do wear a little over time.

If the lower rod is hanging down and not actually attached to anything then you'll need to get hold of another roll pin (from Minispares or any good engineering/fastening firm), refit the rod and drift the roll pin back into place. Haynes describes this quite well I think.

Hope that helps a bit.

Tom

[dansalter]

thats great Tom, thanks

i've never messed around with the gearlinkage or box so don't really know what i'm doing

i thought i'd ask here first because i didnt really know what to search for in the haynes.
i will have a look under the car when it stops raining.

thanks a lot.

[Spitz]

thats great Tom, thanks

i've never messed around with the gearlinkage or box so don't really know what i'm doing

i thought i'd ask here first because i didnt really know what to search for in the haynes.
i will have a look under the car when it stops raining.

thanks a lot.

There is also a possibility a pin has come out inside the shifter itself. What happened to you happened to me a number of years ago. Had to drive home in reverse!
Problem was inside the shifter.

[dansalter]

right, all done.

it was the gearbox end
i don't have a hammer fit roll pin so i've put one in with a slide fit n put a cotter pin right through

but its only temp till i get the right one

thanks a lot.