Technical Gear selector jammed ...again

[gordinir8]

Gear selector lever jammed and stack at reverse speed after I select reverse and this happened twice:bang::bang: The shifter couldn’t move to any other position and that's because the gear selector inside the gearbox jammed between the gearbox 1-2 and 3-4 striker rods. I removed the gearbox back housing and repositioned the lever and everything is ok. The only explanation I can give is because the selector lever has a play inside it’s housing and I guess it misses its position between the selectors. I removed the housing from my old gearbox and it certainly has a smaller play (but it has) Million dollar question is shall I put the housing from my old gearbox or buy a new housing with possibly zero play? Old gearbox never had the same problem. Or perhaps something else worse is happening.

First time this happened my car was on a mechanics shop and he told my that he will fix it for me. I couldn’t do anything so I let the ‘’expert’’ fix it. Unfortunately two weeks later happened again inside my garage this time so don’t blame me why I didn’t fix the problem in first place and I just reposition the shifter.

Thomas

[ame]https://youtu.be/AjdUfEEOf0E[/ame]

 

[Bleeding Knuckles]

Gear selector lever jammed and stack at reverse speed after I select reverse and this happened twice:bang::bang: The shifter couldn’t move to any other position and that's because the gear selector inside the gearbox jammed between the gearbox 1-2 and 3-4 striker rods. I removed the gearbox back housing and repositioned the lever and everything is ok. The only explanation I can give is because the selector lever has a play inside it’s housing and I guess it misses its position between the selectors. I removed the housing from my old gearbox and it certainly has a smaller play (but it has) Million dollar question is shall I put the housing from my old gearbox or buy a new housing with possibly zero play? Old gearbox never had the same problem. Or perhaps something else worse is happening.

First time this happened my car was on a mechanics shop and he told my that he will fix it for me. I couldn’t do anything so I let the ‘’expert’’ fix it. Unfortunately two weeks later happened again inside my garage this time so don’t blame me why I didn’t fix the problem in first place and I just reposition the shifter.

Thomas

https://youtu.be/AjdUfEEOf0E

Thomas, I would check for wear on all of the gear selection mechanism - from the gear stick and back into the gearbox, but you may be able to adjust some of the play out of the selector at the gearstick adjusters?

Ian.

 

[Franko500]

That does seem excessive play!
I don't think I have seen one with as much play as that.
They did make a few changes over the years in regards to oil seals/O rings being fitted. Have you got the correct arm for the housing?
It might be good to find a spare gearbox and use the selector shaft and housing to see if that makes any difference.

 

[gordinir8]

I just put the one from my 500 gearbox which has less play. Next time I will go for a new case. Also checked the rod passing through the tunnel and found it ok as Ian suggested me.

 

[fiat500]

Thomas, I am sure I remember you having a lathe etc. Could you not make a very slim bush for that, which required minimal boring out of the casing?

 

[Toshi 975]

Thomas, I am sure I remember you having a lathe etc. Could you not make a very slim bush for that, which required minimal boring out of the casing?

Funny you should say that , I recently bought a whole load of new & used Fiat 126 parts from a Polish guy. A complete mix but I noticed one item as I sorted the bits. A gearbox tail casting that has been fitted with a long bronze bush. Last year I decided to do something about another gearbox that I bought a few years ago, also from a Polish guy. The gearbox was almost entirely in bits when I got it so did a complete rebuild. When I got to the gear selector & tailpiece casting it was probably worse than the one shown above and I scrapped them. There is a rubber boot on the 126 to cover the selector shaft etc.

 

[gordinir8]

Thomas, I am sure I remember you having a lathe etc. Could you not make a very slim bush for that, which required minimal boring out of the casing?

You remember correct Peter but my lathe is very small, ofcourse i can take it to the guys at work and make a bush for me, with the use of loctite it will be better than original, selector is also worn but they can take it down a couple of tenths. Nice idea, i will do it in first opportunity and have it as spare and change it when i got time and run out of problems Now i have a new problem with my distributor but i am on it. One problem after the other but i hope i will solve them one by one.

 

[gordinir8]

:bang::bang::bang: Ok it happened again, although the case from my old gearbox had much less play and reverse gear selection was smoother it just happened again after a month of everyday use and selector jammed. When this happens i can only select between reverse and neutral. Since i don't have much time now to modify it with bushings etc i will go for a new gearbox end cover the one with updated seal. I am starting to loose my patience with it

Thomas

 

[gordinir8]

Update, got a brand new gearbox aft cover, now my shaft has zero play so proudly i put everything back and test it. Unfortunately problem remains, so i focused in other places and after a lot of investigation i managed to find that my gearbox can select simultaneously first and reverse gear:bang::bang: Or any two sets of gears! I managed to understand what is happening inside the gearbox and i think i know how to fix it. There is a very small pin in the 3rd-4th shaft selector that prevents this and i am pretty sure it was missing from mine, actually i thought the hole that this small pin goes is for lubrication. So i will have to remove the gearbox and repair it.

 

[gordinir8]

FYI problem solved, small pin was installed and everything works fine now. That was a real hard case for me.

 

[Franko500]

Hi Thomas,
I'm glad you fixed it. Those little odd shaped pieces are a little tricky and are usually the cause of gear selection problems as are the 3 spring loaded ball bearings on the side of the box.
Hopefully everything is ok now