Hey, I'm having this little issue with my 82 QV: when shifting in first, 50% of the time the gear is not engaged. When I press the lever down (like you would do to put in reverse) and then shift in 1st, it works 100% of the time! Does that sound like there's a problem with the shifter itself, with the rod that goes to the gearbox and passes through the engine, or is that an issue in the gearbox?
A friend recently had to replace his 308 gear lever and on closer inspection it was worn halfway thro against the gate and this was throwing out 1st (& reverse) alignment - might be worth checking
Could be something worn indeed. However, if something is worn in the shifter you feel it (awkward movement) when you shift. When do you have this problem? Cold or warm transmission, perhaps both? Oldman's trick when synchros do not lign up. First put it in reverse and the shift at once to 1st gear. Seems you are doing this, that might indicate to a (worn) synchro problem or alignment.
The problem first appeared when my car left the maintenance shop to have the oil pan gasket fixed. Maybe they hit something while removing it. I can live with it, but of course, it's not ideal.
Did they replace the shift shaft seals as well? Is so, then it's definitely a linkage adjustment issue.
That would be the first thing to check. I am not a mechanic, but inside the gear box, there is a stack of three 90° brackets (renvois dangle, in French) on one vertical axle, one above the other, that convert the LONGITUDINAL movement they receive from the shifter shaft towards the gear axles, that are TRANSVERSE, to select the gears. Usually when the shifter shaft is not perfectly aligned, it cannot select the correct gear because its extremity inside the gear box is not pushing on the right bracket (= you get a gear, but a wrong one ) or pushing on the right one, but not truly (you get the right gear, but cannot engage it.) ? Rgds
It looks like that's something I can't solve without opening the gearbox. It's not that it's selecting the wrong gear, the gearbox just stays in neutral when the shifter is in 1st.
I'm with Wade. They must have done more then just changing fluids. Unless they changed to a very different lubricant. I'm thinking it is a linkage problem. If so don't drive too long with it, because if it scrubs to much against the forks.. they wear out before you know it. Not sure what forks cost these days, but it is a lot.
Upss! That would be a very easy, but at the same time a stupid mistake. Or switched the spacers. �� Not sure if the ball hold the lever in gear to be honest. It's true that these little balls tend to fly into every direction if it is your first time taking the pan off ��
Verell sells a Shift Detent Tool that helps significantly when adjusting the linkage. The tool holds the balls, spacers and springs in place while the pan is off, thus centering the forks. http://www.unobtainiumsupply.com/UnobtainiumSupply_Product_List.PDF See the white piece in the image below. . Image Unavailable, Please Login
Hey, it's not a 'balls' problem, all 3 of them are in there. I had that checked by another mechanic because that was my first thought.
Its the little ball that keeps the lever in gear...with the pression of the spring under it. Maybe they put the spring first and the the ball...or an other ball with other diameter. Can be also that the hollow space in that lever is'nt put horizontal so that ball has'nt enough space to pass. Guido
I had this issue after I changed my shifter shaft seals. It's all about allignment. tricky job but doable. The problem is when you tighten the bolts the shaft could move. I redid the alignment and all troubles were solved.
