Gear shift rod and knob snap off like a bad cartoon!

Well, like something out of a cartoon, I was merging onto the 10 Freeway from Santa Monica during rush hour when I shift into third gear and the knob and shaft came off in my hand! WTF! I was taking a friend home from an outpatient medical procedure so I was driving pretty relaxed at the time. Can you imagine what it's like to sit there in merging freeway traffic looking at your passenger while they stare back at you with your Ferrari's shift knob and shaft in hand? (Shaft is actually silver, looks off color because of the camera)

Has anyone ever heard of such a thing happening before?
Suggestions on fixing? Welding doesn't look so good, or am I wrong?
How about threading it and drilling out the other end and threading it?
How much is involved in pulling the shifter arm from the shifter assembly?
Thanks in advance!
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Yikes!!

How did you get home?

 

My first thought as well!

This is the first time I'm hearing of this happening in a Ferrari. It is/was a common problem in the German Lamborghinis.

 

Well, if it's gonna break, it will break there - where the round section gives way to the square section.
Certainly could not be repaired by drilling and tapping (it would be even weaker than before). You could try welding, but the lever may well have been heat treated and you would have to make it look pretty as you would see the join thru the gate.

The part number is 163801 (or 163169) listed by Ricambi at just over $400 new.
As for your gas cap door solenoid, you may want to try a breaker's yard. Personally I would fit a second hand or new lever and not try to repair. The lever can see quite a bit of force in moments of stress!

Fitting is realtively easy and you would take the opportunity to replace the ball containing bushing (154741) and the ball joint seat (127446) (Table 31, items 6 and 10) to give you a 100% rattle free lever. The remote housing is removed from underneath the car after disconnecting the remote bar leading to the gearbox.

If you want pictures or a how to do description you only have to shout.

 

163801 is for a RHD vehicle. It is bent the wrong way for us Yanks.

 

Oh heck - that's an odd thing to happen.

Did you manage to drive it back home with just 3rd gear?

All the best,
Andrew.

 

Not only for you Yanks. I note that it costs $7.52 more to bend it for LHD! (Just for the joke Daniel!)

 

Put it in second gear to get moving and build momentum then coast. Not fun.

 

Thanks ronrob!
If you could send pics or attach them that would be most helpful!

 

This happened to me in my brand new at the time 1987 Chevrolet Chevette..........fortunately I was in second gear and the closest dealer was 10 blocks away.

First and only time I have ever seen it occur, until now.

 

this happened on a lot of elises at first...

 

get paddles

 

I believe it happened to a lot of Lancia Scorpions back in the day.

 

OMG!!! That sucks..

 

Of course first and foremost sorry to hear about the problem...

But I'll have to remember this thread next time the 3 pedalers jab at F1's

 

I guess he was up the creek without paddles

 

LOL

That was pretty good.

 

Until your 355 F1 pump goes then you're going to be looking for a source for your $19,000 part!

 

Lol!

 

huh?? Hell if the pumps get $19k I'd sell mine tomorrow and put in a 360 pump for $2k Sadly though the pumps very rarely need replacement so I'm stuck with mine for a while I guess.

 

Ouch !!! Surely embarrassing !

 

Well look at it this way you made history I certainly never have seen that before.

So just curious and you don't have to tell me but what did your passenger say ?

 

This thread : www.ferrarichat/forum/showthread.php?t=169259 will show you all you need to know to remove the remote gear control box and fit a new lever. I may be repeating what's in the the text, but be careful with the plastic cage (item 6) as it's easily broken and the spring (item 22) can go flying across the workshop. This will take a few hours to do, but it's a nice "clean" job with very satisfying results. You just have to find the time to enjoy it!
Good luck!
Ron

 

Sorry, that should be (of course): www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=169259