Technical Twin-air Help Please - Lose gearbox only selects 3rd and 4th

[Liffeywater]

Hello Everyone.

I'm new to the forum and own a 2012 Twinair with c.40k miles on her.

She runs really well and I've had no issues since I bought her but lately the gear stick has become loose. Last night when I was going round a roundabout and changed gear all of a sudden I couldn't find anything but 3rd and 4th gear.

I don't want to use technical terms loosely but you can now 'waggle' the gear stick quite easily left and right when she's in either of those gears and even when lifting the skirt lifter I can't find reverse.

Having manged to drive carefully home, I now plan to attempt a repair at the weekend. I have a reasonable amount of experience but I'm no mechanic. I've taken a picture (I can't post in on here until I have 5 posts) of the linkage that I can see and understand that I might need to remove the battery etc.., to get into the gearbox side of things.

Can anyone offer me a description of what's gone wrong, a Walkthrough on how to fix it (and any parts I need to buy) or point me toward any threads on here that can help, please?

All help is greatly appreciated

 

[Bluetruck]

Sounds like a gear cable has come apart at the gearbox end. The cable comes off and leaves a cap on the ball. They can be super glued back together but the long term fix is new cables. A less than pleasant job with the car on a ramp...

 

[Liffeywater]

Sounds like a gear cable has come apart at the gearbox end. The cable comes off and leaves a cap on the ball. They can be super glued back together but the long term fix is new cables. A less than pleasant job with the car on a ramp...

Thanks very much Bluetruck.

Ok, that makes sense - I'll take a look and see if that's the case and get some gator glue on the case.

If I decide to change the cable would I be best buying a replacement gear linkage (£45 ish) from e-bay and change the lot out?

2011 FIAT 500 GEAR SELECTOR + LINKAGE 55344824 #9095

 

[varesecrazy]

Hi. Choice is yours really.

At least whilst you have access you can rebuild the old cable..
If the Ebay item doesnt fit

 

[typecastboy]

That’s exactly what happened to me. Have a look behind the battery and you will see the linkage. It’s probably come off.

 

[Bluetruck]

A bit overkill. The cables are the issue not the selector. Better getting new as the second hand ones could be worn. You dont want to go to the trouble fitting a worn set as they aint fun to do.

 

[jrkitching]

A bit overkill. The cables are the issue not the selector.

And secondhand cables from a 7yr old car may be little better than the ones you're replacing. IIRC you can buy new OEM cables from shop4parts for about 2/3 of the main dealer price, and get a further 10% discount if you make a donation to the forum.

I'd start by trying @typecastboy's repair and, if that doesn't work or last, invest in a new set. If you're going to have to go to all the trouble of replacing the cables, then fitting new ones is worth it if you plan on keeping the car; it's not a job you'll want to do twice.

 

[Liffeywater]

Thanks very much for the advice everyone

The car is actually on a PCP and due to go back in May so I think replacing cables is the last thing I want to do.

I'll have a bash at the weekend and let you all know how I get on

 

[Pathaleon]

Thanks very much for the advice everyone

The car is actually on a PCP and due to go back in May so I think replacing cables is the last thing I want to do.

I'll have a bash at the weekend and let you all know how I get on

Would like to think that superglue will last due to the nature of how glue works.

 

[John202020]

The car is actually on a PCP and due to go back in May so

2012 and on pcp, how long was it? or can you do them for the second owner?

 

[typecastboy]

I hope so, cos the one I superglued now belongs to my neighbour who uses it for work every day. I'm dreading the knock on the door :-o

 

[Liffeywater]

Would like to think that superglue will last due to the nature of how glue works.

Indeed!

2012 and on pcp, how long was it? or can you do them for the second owner?

I got her as a runaround in 2015 with 17k miles on a 3 year PCP.

I can manage minor repairs myself but anything trickier I'm going to need professional help with Arnold Clark quoting me the bones of £300 to supply and fit the part. As kind as I am, I'm not planning to spend that for 2 months and about 500 miles use of the car.

I hope so, cos the one I superglued now belongs to my neighbour who uses it for work every day. I'm dreading the knock on the door :-o

How long ago was that, TB? From what I've googled Superglue sounds like it would be right at home with this type of repair and should hold as well as the orignal poorly designed part!

 

[typecastboy]

Only a couple of weeks ago. It failed the day after he bought it from me!!

 

[Liffeywater]

Only a couple of weeks ago. It failed the day after he bought it from me!!

That is p*ss poor luck right there!

How long did it take you to fix it?

I'm hoping an hour!

 

[Mercky]

Only a couple of weeks ago. It failed the day after he bought it from me!!

Presumably you gave him a warranty?

 

[typecastboy]

That is p*ss poor luck right there!



How long did it take you to fix it?



I'm hoping an hour!

About 10 minutes plus glue drying time. Once you take the battery and tray out it’s easy to reach. One bolt takes the arm off. You then take the broken bit off of the ball and smother it in super glue. I left it about 20 minutes before bolting it back and snapping the ball back on.

 

[jrkitching]

plus glue drying time.

Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) can be used with superglue both as a filler and an accelerant; it's particularly effective if there is any gap between the parts to be joined. It has the great advantage of not shrinking when it cures, and you can even sand it afterwards.

There's plenty of information about this on the internet.

 

[typecastboy]

Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) can be used with superglue both as a filler and an accelerant; it's particularly effective if there is any gap between the parts to be joined. It has the great advantage of not shrinking when it cures, and you can even sand it afterwards.

There's plenty of information about this on the internet.

Now he tells me ?