Ferrari 412 – 5 speed – reverse gear problems | FerrariChat
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Ferrari 412 – 5 speed – reverse gear problems

Discussion in '365 GT4 2+2/400/412' started by peder412, May 18, 2012.

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  1. peder412

    peder412 Rookie

    Dec 27, 2003
    14
    Sweden
    Full Name:
    Peder Hansen
    #1 peder412, May 18, 2012
    I have been a happy owner of a 5 speed Ferrari 412 for more than 10 years. It has now covered 69000 km. Some pictures of the car can be found here.

    http://www.thecartorialist.com/?p=3803#comments

    The reserve gear has always required a firm hand but within the last year or two it has become more difficult to engage reverse gear. Now it is impossible to do that in cold condition and in warm condition it requires luck and brute force. The rest of the gears work without problems - also in cold conditions. There are no strange sounds from the gearbox when driving or otherwise problems. The gear oil was changed a few years ago.

    I have search the forum and literature and can’t find the cause / solution to the problem.

    Does anyone have experienced that problem with their 400/412 and have solutions? Hope for a simple one solution but guess that I have to look at the shift mechanism in the gearbox. What will be the simplest way to that?

    - Remove the gearbox as described in the 400 workshop manual
    - Remove the centre console and access from above. It looks as a possibility but I don’t know if it works in practice. Any experience out there?

    Hope for answers so I can get the car back on the road without having to plan driving without need for reverse gear.
     
  2. 180 Out

    180 Out Formula 3

    Jan 4, 2012
    1,286
    San Leandro, CA
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    Bill Henley
    #2 180 Out, May 18, 2012
    When I have had problems like this with American manual transmissions in front engine/rear drive cars, it has always been caused by binding in the shifter mechanism. That is where I would look first. Maybe rubber bushings are rotted out. Maybe installing shims at the pivot points will tighten it up.
     
  3. geffen365gtc/4

    geffen365gtc/4 Karting

    Mar 12, 2005
    191
    #3 geffen365gtc/4, May 18, 2012
    My guess would be the clutch not releasing completely. The braking action of the syncro's would allow the forward gears to engage....While the un-syncro'd reverse would give you some push-back.

    Geffen
     
  4. dstacy

    dstacy F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Jan 23, 2006
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    #4 dstacy, May 18, 2012
    Removing the gearbox is not an easy task. It can be done, but it isn't easy.
     
  5. Ashman

    Ashman Three Time F1 World Champ
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    Sep 5, 2002
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    John
    #5 Ashman, May 18, 2012
    My vote is the shifter linkage.
     
  6. bundas

    bundas F1 Veteran
    Owner

    Dec 31, 2005
    7,090
    lexington ky usa
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    mitchell barnes
    #6 bundas, May 18, 2012
    my bet is the worn clutch. a clutch problem will show up in first and reverse.
     
  7. wrxmike

    wrxmike Moderator
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    Mar 20, 2004
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    Mike
    #7 wrxmike, May 18, 2012
    The shifter mechanism is internal to the gearbox, there are no rubber bushings or externally accessible shims on a 412 manual g.b.

    M
     
  8. wrxmike

    wrxmike Moderator
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    Mar 20, 2004
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    #8 wrxmike, May 18, 2012
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    This sounds like what happened to me in the past few weeks., it's most likley a stretched clutch cable, they stretch before they fail.

    As the cable gets a little longer it no longer fully disengages the clutch which makes it hard to engage first gear or reverse. It's most noticeable when trying to engage reverse gear as there is no synchro on reverse.

    To check adjust the clutch cable a little tighter and see if the problem goes away (I found this this will only work temporarily, as once the clutch cable has started to stretch it will
    continue to do so until it breaks)

    Cable is availbale from Ferrari UK for around 75 pounds.

    M
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
  9. It's Ross

    It's Ross Formula 3

    Jul 30, 2007
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    Barrington, Ill. USA
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    Ross
    #9 It's Ross, May 19, 2012
    Does reverse engage easily with the engine off? If so I'd suggest clutch issues rather than a gearbox fault, perhaps the stretched cable as has been suggested.
     
  10. peder412

    peder412 Rookie

    Dec 27, 2003
    14
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    Peder Hansen
    #10 peder412, May 20, 2012
    Thanks for all the replies. I will check the clutch and cable. The clutch was changed a few years ago and have run around 10000 km since that. It can be that is has to be adjusted a little.
     
  11. Faber

    Faber Formula Junior

    May 5, 2011
    954
    TX Hill Country
    Full Name:
    Tom G.
    #11 Faber, Jun 19, 2013
    Hi - 79 500 GT - Good drive today and on return noticed difficulty getting into first pulling into Garage - then difficulty in Rev - Goes through gears while off but not reverse - Clutch pedal has 2" downward free play before it feels like it engages. I can pull it up and then push down 2? inches. Will look for some cable diagrams - appreciate any insights - Thanks,
     
  12. dstacy

    dstacy F1 World Champ
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    #12 dstacy, Jun 19, 2013
    Shouldn't have 2" of free travel Tom so go adjust it first.
     
  13. Faber

    Faber Formula Junior

    May 5, 2011
    954
    TX Hill Country
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    Tom G.
    #13 Faber, Jun 19, 2013
    Thanks - the 2" "play" only occurred after the drive - but I assume I should invest in some lift/blocks with this beast - had power/acceleration through all the gears until I crept into the garage - getting a cable ordered and mech inspection this week - and here things were going so swimmingly...(-*

    ps: Was searching on the site/web - are there instructions on adjusting the cable somewhere?
     

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