308 Shift Gate Reverse Lockout Repair

[cray54]

I fixed my reverse lockout and thought I’d post some pictures.

The first picture is of the wear on the lockout, the next three are of the end result. I welded a couple passes over the worn notch and then trimmed the built up lockout tab with a small grinder back to its original shape. I kept the heat input as low as possible to have minimal effect on the treatment of the surrounding metal [“shift gate is case hardened carbon steel that is hard chrome plated”… info from: http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/sho...&postcount=12].

The fact that it would wear so much with just 40,000 miles on the car seems to indicate the repair will not last without some care. I figure if I lubricate the shift mechanism, lubricate shift gate wear surfaces, and push down when going into and out of reverse; then I can have the gate last substantially longer than it already has.

How frequent is this problem?

-Chris

[Steve Magnusson]

Originally Posted by cray54

...How frequent is this problem?...

I'd say not infrequent (but most don't get fixed because there's no operational problem) -- and a lot of F have their shift lever itself stuck in the down position so they don't know what you're talking about . Nice work -- how was the condition of the mating corner on the shift lever itself? Might be better if the gate (the easier to repair) is the component that wears? (But no one should really even be making contact there -- it's like dragging the shift lever against the edges of the gate -- it works, but that's not how the design was intended to work).

[John Harry]

Nice job. I had mine off recently to polish it up – at 38,000 miles the wear was minimal.

[330gt]

Same problem, same repair:
http://www.parrotbyte.com/kbc/ferrari/308/Reverse.htm

[stephenofkanza]

When I bought my 81 308 GTSi in Jan 2005, the previous owner did not give me any special instructions about pushing down to put it into reverse, there was no need. It was not until I read a thread on F-chat that I found out about it. I decided to give me Xmas gift Dec 05 and rather than just 'fix'
I boought a Hill Slick Gate from Danial.
When I got it, while I was removing the origional I found that the origional was
in backwards. I went ahead and replaced it and kept the origional should the next owner want it to be stock.

stephen

[dstacy]

Originally Posted by stephenofkanza

I found that the origional was
in backwards.

Here I sit shaking my head and muttering, " why, oh why?....."

I always wondered why my lock out didn't function with the low miles on my series 1 GT4. It was one of those things that I had on a list to check out one day when I had time.
After reading this thread, I figure, what the hell its only a couple of screws. So out in the garage I go. What do I find??

Mine was in backwards also.
sheesh! some people.

[thecarreaper]

Originally Posted by dstacy

Here I sit shaking my head and muttering, " why, oh why?....."

I always wondered why my lock out didn't function with the low miles on my series 1 GT4. It was one of those things that I had on a list to check out one day when I had time.
After reading this thread, I figure, what the hell its only a couple of screws. So out in the garage I go. What do I find??

Mine was in backwards also.
sheesh! some people.

i am lol with you !! not at you. i need to remember this !!! i think it was backwards in my 78GTS....

[Mike C]

Originally Posted by dstacy

Mine was in backwards also.
sheesh! some people.

I've educated several local 308/328 owners about that "feature" when they ask why they don't have a reverse lock-out... unfortunately, some mechanics aren't conscientious about little things.

[MREUS]

Originally Posted by 91tr

I'd say not infrequent (but most don't get fixed because there's no operational problem) -- and a lot of F have their shift lever itself stuck in the down position so they don't know what you're talking about . Nice work -- how was the condition of the mating corner on the shift lever itself? Might be better if the gate (the easier to repair) is the component that wears? (But no one should really even be making contact there -- it's like dragging the shift lever against the edges of the gate -- it works, but that's not how the design was intended to work).

Does this look right?

The first picture is before I push down the shifter...it just touches the lockout, but not enough to stop you from going into reverse.

The second picture is after I push down the shifter.

[wise3]

mine was backwards on my first 308. I always assumed a previous owner had done it on purpose to avoid having to push down on the shifter. I personally liked it that way and left it. My current 308 is installed correctly; I'm still getting used to it

[jonesdds]

I've noticed that other 308's and 328's had the lockout but my 328 does not seem to lock out of reverse as once I did "lose my head" and revert to typical first gear placement. Mine has 45K so I assume worn out. I have to assume it is part of the shift gate of a 1989 328. I was considering the slick shift gate at Hill Eng. anyway. Honestly, I didn't give it much thought until this post came up. Always a learning experience on Fchat!

Jeff

[jonesdds]

Mine is definetly worn out when I checked it out today, ordered the slick shifter from Hill Engineering.

Jeff

[Verell]

If you're going to build the lockout up with welding, I suggest using SS wire or rod, it's a lot harder than std steel MIG wire or rod.

Of course, that implies that it'll wear the boss on the shifter faster as well.

[gerard.hansen]

Mine was backward too.

[hanknum]

I wasn't even aware of this feature. The block portion of shifter has worn as well as the angled stop. I've got 103k on my '78 so I guess it is just normal wear. I'm not going to worry too much about it.