No Reverse after changing Shaft oril seal | FerrariChat

No Reverse after changing Shaft oril seal

Discussion in '308/328' started by dlpeworld, Dec 1, 2007.

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  1. dlpeworld

    dlpeworld Rookie

    Sep 12, 2004
    5
    My 308 "suddenly" will not shift into reverse.

    Last spring I changed the shift shaft seal. This required going into the transmission and removing some shifter components so the shaft could be withdrawn. Seemed like everything went back together fine ....

    Dummy that I am I then lost interest and never road tested thew car

    until now

    and it won't engage in reverse. Shifter does not even FEEL quite right pushing down and up/left - does not seem to depress something as it used to.

    so

    any thoguhts about where to start? Is this liekly just a linkage adjustment, or more likely I messed up some internal shifter items? If linkage, any one have info on how to do this?
     
  2. Jbryant

    Jbryant Karting

    Sep 23, 2006
    220
    California City
    Full Name:
    Jeff Bryant
    #2 Jbryant, Dec 1, 2007
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  3. Danielcookson

    Danielcookson Karting

    Jun 24, 2007
    85
    San Diego
    Full Name:
    Daniel Cookson
  4. 308 GTB

    308 GTB F1 World Champ
    Rossa Subscribed

    Feb 7, 2002
    11,722
    New Jersey
    Full Name:
    Barry Wolinsky
    Dan,

    I hope you're upgrading to the QUAD-RING® Seals when replacing the shift shaft seals:

    http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showpost.php?p=135474269&postcount=66

    I did this two years ago and no leaks so far. The shifter is just a bit stiffer, but not objectionably so.

    Barry
     
  5. Verell

    Verell F1 Veteran
    Consultant Owner

    May 5, 2001
    7,022
    Groton, MA
    Full Name:
    Verell Boaen
    It's a bushing, rubber sandwiched between a pair of steel sleeves. The FPC calls it a SilentBloc.

    You may want to consider these as an alternative:

    http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=173230

    Either shift system alignment, or a bad shift bushing can cause the 'no reverse' problem.
     
  6. Steve Magnusson

    Steve Magnusson Two Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa

    Jan 11, 2001
    26,822
    30°30'40" N 97°35'41" W (Texas)
    Full Name:
    Steve Magnusson
    Are you saying that you can get 1st gear but not reverse?
     
  7. Danielcookson

    Danielcookson Karting

    Jun 24, 2007
    85
    San Diego
    Full Name:
    Daniel Cookson
    Barry,

    Yes, I went with the quad-ring seals. I like the "stiff" feel. They sent something like 10 seals in the order. Now I am reading and working on getting the shifting alignment correct. There are some good posts, but the tools Verell mentioned would sure help.

    Dan
     
  8. Verell

    Verell F1 Veteran
    Consultant Owner

    May 5, 2001
    7,022
    Groton, MA
    Full Name:
    Verell Boaen
    Dan, Send me your address & I'll get you a pair of bushing & shift alignment tools out ASAP to get you out of this bind.

    I've got to pull a tranny apart before I can design & make the 3rd tool, so it'll be a few weeks.
     
  9. 308 GTB

    308 GTB F1 World Champ
    Rossa Subscribed

    Feb 7, 2002
    11,722
    New Jersey
    Full Name:
    Barry Wolinsky
    Dan,

    Good to hear. With the Quad-Rings, it will be a long time until you'll have to replace them again. They're a much better design than the stock O-Rings. The stiifness will ease a bit after 1,000 miles or so.

    Barry
     
  10. Danielcookson

    Danielcookson Karting

    Jun 24, 2007
    85
    San Diego
    Full Name:
    Daniel Cookson
    Well I gave up trying to adjust the linkage so I took the car into Gary Bobileff in San Diego. He did the major and a few other things as well as the shift adjustment. In the past two weeks I may have put about 200 miles on the car. This past Friday I took the wife out for a ride and hit every red light. About half way through the drive the car stalled at a light. After some time I realized that 1st and reverse are gone. I will call Gary tomorrow. It seems the shift bushings were fine when I replace the seals on the shift shaft but maybe this is the cause for the adjustment to go out so soon?

    Veryl I am still interested in those adjustment tools if and when they become available. Thanks so much.

    Dan Cookson
     
  11. luckydynes

    luckydynes F1 Rookie

    Jan 25, 2004
    3,931
    CA and OR
    Full Name:
    pit bull
    What special tools do you need for this?

    I know lining up the internal mechanism takes some special kit but external shift linkage adjustment is pretty straightforward . . what's going on?

    Sean
     
  12. Danielcookson

    Danielcookson Karting

    Jun 24, 2007
    85
    San Diego
    Full Name:
    Daniel Cookson
    I wish I knew. Went by and talked with Gary. He said bring it in and they will check it out..... once it's adjusted it should stay adjusted. The bushing on the shift shaft connector seems like new. No cracks or looseness observed. I will report what is discovered tomorrow. I did read a post last night that outlined a through procedure to adjust the shift linkage. This is assuming the internal adjustments are correct.

    Dan
     
  13. lbanez

    lbanez Rookie

    May 11, 2004
    39
    Full Name:
    Angelo Albanese
    THE ONLY WAY to check this all out is to remove the tranny oil pan.........be careful with the 3 detent springs , 3 balls and one spacer that will come out with the pan...........have a good look at the shifter forks...........once you have it off , have someone go inside the car and place the car in 2nd gear, look at the position of the main shift fork, it should be right in the middle of the 3 shifter linkages, if it is not, you will have to undo the locknuts in the shift linkage, you will have to remove the gas tank cover to access this........this can take some time to get it just right, you want the shift fork dead in the middle of the linkage, once it is done, go to 1st , it should grab it dead in the center, then go to reverse, should be the same, try 4th and 5th , should be the same, the adjustment is very finikey, it's not NASA work, but once you look at it , it's a piece of cake, make sure you put the balls in with grease to hold them into the holes, with the springs, the spacer goes in the first hole nearest the starter, again not rocket science .........I just did it myself .............
     
  14. luckydynes

    luckydynes F1 Rookie

    Jan 25, 2004
    3,931
    CA and OR
    Full Name:
    pit bull
    Hopefully you don't have an internal problem . .. next time bring your car up here and we'll look at it. I've been thru a few 308 gearboxes :).

    In another thread someone mentioned to check for broken motor mounts. FWIW I upgraded to some polyurethane motor mounts 'cause I could tell my car was harder to shift during heavy cornering at the track . . . the mounts helped but it can still be challenging going 3-4 or 4-3 under heavy cornering loads (actually shouldn't be down shifting in the middle of a corner anyway but sometimes people spin in front of you :)) . .. on the straight she shifts like a dream even under full power.

    Sean
     
  15. Danielcookson

    Danielcookson Karting

    Jun 24, 2007
    85
    San Diego
    Full Name:
    Daniel Cookson
    #15 Danielcookson, Mar 26, 2008
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Sean,

    Thanks for the offer. I want to get up your way just to show you the car.

    I dropped the car off at Gary Bobileff's this morning. He found the problem almost immediately, fixed it, and also caught a potential disaster (the electrical lead to the fuel pump was hanging on by a thread). The amazing thing was it turned out to be something I caused and not Gary. I have to tell you, he is one stand up guy. He wouldn't let me pay him anything. He just asked that I post on it on F-Chat due to several people calling him and questioning his ability to adjust the linkage on a 308. Gary has been nothing but generous with his time and helpful to me.

    Apparently when changing the shift shaft seals (prior to taking it to Gary for the major), I neglected to tighten the nut holding the wheel fork to the shift shaft when replacing the parts. The nut had worked its way off the bolt, and it was in the process of falling out completely. Thank God for guarding angels and Gary Bobileff.

    Dan Cookson
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
  16. luckydynes

    luckydynes F1 Rookie

    Jan 25, 2004
    3,931
    CA and OR
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    pit bull

    That's totally cool of him.
     

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