Technical Stuck in gear - Cannot shift into neutral !

[Uaglio]

Any ideas - shifter suddenly stuck in gear - I think in 2nd. Clutch engages and disconnects power from engine when depressed, but can't shift into any other gear; shifter just wont allow it - except reverse - I can select that, but it doesn't change the gear! I inspected the linkage - all looks ok from gearshift mechanism back to the "lollipop" rubber link to the main gear selector shaft. I tried disconnecting that and manually moving the shift selector shaft with a screwdriver inserted at 90 degrees into the shaft connector end, but I can only move it one way (I think to reverse) and it requires a lot of force just to do that. This happened suddenly about a mile from home, and I just drove it back home by standing on the clutch at intersections and stoplights to keep the car from moving. It drove normally in the one gear it was stuck in.



I suspect bad things are going on inside the gearbox with respect to the gear selector mechanism and expect to move ahead with pulling the drive train and probably swapping up to a synchro replacement gearbox. May even bite the bullet and do a full motor swap to a 650 126 motor. But interested in whether anyone with more experience thinks I may have missed something simple. I planned to do this upgrade anyway, but not until the car is off the road for the winter. Thanks!

 

[Vitesse]

I fear your only solution is going to be removing the engine and gearbox. It can be really difficult to select gears by disconnecting the lollipop and using a screwdriver because you lose all the leverage from the linkage. On one of my gearboxes I can just about select gears using a screwdriver on the selector shaft. On the other one I can’t move it at all, but once it was in the car it was fine.

It could have broken a selector fork of something?

Tony

 

[Uaglio]

Thanks Tony. I also trial reconnected the shifter multiple times to try to see if it freed up- no dice. Looks like nothing else to do but get in there and inspect. I agree it seems like a selector fork or something internal, not linkage oriented.

 

[fiat500]

You can remove the rear cover that the selector shaft enters whilst the box is still in the car and maybe "unfraggle" the selector mechanism if things have got a bit mixed up. It could also be one of the tiny interlock "bullets" damaged or somehow out of place. These normally prevent the box selecting two gears at once.

 

[gordinir8]

I am having the same problem as we speak but i can only choose between reverse and neutral. Reed this first: https://www.fiatforum.com/500-classic/459570-gear-selector-jammed-again.html
Watch the video and check yours. I am pretty sure you have the same problem as me so before removing the gearbox first open the rear cover as Peter suggested. If your gear selector has the same play don't put it back but replace the cover and if it is also worn the selector with new.
Please report back.

Thomas

tip, before removing the cover first remove the speedometer gear mechanism, it is easier this way.

 

[Uaglio]

Thank you Thomas. I did see your post earlier, and I am fairly sure I don't have that play in the selector shaft. But I will check again. In any event, I've used the whole episode to justify an engine and gearbox upgrade!

 

[gordinir8]

Well today i replaced my gearbox end cover with a brand new, zero play this time but problem remain:bang::bang::bang::bang:. After a lot of investigation and after i focused in other places i managed to find that my gearbox can select first and reverse gear at the same time There is a very tiny pin that prevent gears to do this and i am pretty sure that it is missing from my gearbox. Sorry i can't help you.