Gear linkage issue - ease of removing gated shifter? | FerrariChat

Gear linkage issue - ease of removing gated shifter?

Discussion in '308/328' started by LB427SC, Jun 6, 2022.

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  1. LB427SC

    LB427SC Karting

    Aug 5, 2021
    131
    Wales, UK
    Full Name:
    Lloyd Barnes
    Hi all,

    first failure in my 82GTSi this weekend. At first it didn't want to select reverse, kept picking up a forward gear, 2nd I'm assuming. Then whilst out it would only select 2nd/3rd. Lever moves freely into all gates.

    I'm guessing the adjustment linkage underneath has come loose as back/forward movement seems fine but side to side barely works? Does that sound about right or might it be something else?

    My plan is to get the car onto a friend's lift, pop the gearbox sump off and tighten everything up/align everything.

    I've searched but I can't seem to find a thread on this. How easy is it to remove/rebuilt to gated shifter mechanism, and is it worth it? Looking into it from the top it looks pretty grubby in there.
     
  2. Alex308qv

    Alex308qv Formula Junior

    Jul 1, 2016
    392
    PA
    Full Name:
    Alex
    There are many threads, search the words “shift shaft,” including a Birdman sticky. Sounds like the bushings in your shift shaft have deteriorated, easily diagnosed by watching the exposed portion of the shaft under the car while someone wiggles the shifter. If the linkage hasn’t been rehabbed, it’s quite common to do the whole system, including rebuilding/cleaning the shift box, replacing the bushings and the shaft seals in the engine/transmission, and adjusting the linkage adjustment requiring removal of the transmission pan. First to make sure your engine mounts are sound and the engine isn’t sagging.

    One “pro tip “I found too late but now will never forget is how easy it is to remove the console/tunnel. Once the seats, forward coin tray, ashtray bezel, shift gate and knob are removed, relieve the e-brake (I just disconnect the cable stirrup at the left rear wheel), and pop out and disconnect the rear most switch (by the e-brake handle). At that point you can pull up the e-brake handle way up and literally lift the console and lay it down on its side on the passenger floor. Nothing else gets needs to be disconnected.


    Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat.com mobile app
     
  3. LB427SC

    LB427SC Karting

    Aug 5, 2021
    131
    Wales, UK
    Full Name:
    Lloyd Barnes
    Hi Alex,

    Thanks for that. I'll try the "shift shaft" search now. Good info re the centre console. I'm guessing something broke or came loose as it suddenly failed.
     
  4. daynyc

    daynyc Karting
    Silver Subscribed

    Aug 5, 2016
    88
    The gated shifter mechanism is easy to clean/refurbish. Just remove the center console. If the bushings look awful, replacing them may solve the problem. However, as Alex has very correctly pointed out, significant shifting problems will probably require going into the gearbox and performing the additional operations which he outlines. (Which are really not all that difficult.) There are some excellent threads to guide you.
     
  5. LB427SC

    LB427SC Karting

    Aug 5, 2021
    131
    Wales, UK
    Full Name:
    Lloyd Barnes
  6. BrockBenson

    BrockBenson Formula Junior

    Oct 18, 2018
    269
    Australia
    Do you mean it slipped here? I think from memory there is a locking bolt there that holds the lever to the shaft. And I don't think the shaft is splined, so if the bolt comes loose the lever may slip?
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
  7. LB427SC

    LB427SC Karting

    Aug 5, 2021
    131
    Wales, UK
    Full Name:
    Lloyd Barnes
    Hi. I don’t think it’s there. There was no evidence that was loose. I wondered if the turnbuckle wasn’t fully tight. The bush at the rear looked a little worn but not that bad really.

    it’s a little hard to tell with the car on axle stands. I’m going to get it back together and take it across to a friend who has a lift.
     
  8. s219

    s219 Formula Junior

    Aug 26, 2021
    464
    For sure the turnbuckle could be a culprit -- if that loosened up you'd lose sync between the gates and the selector just like you describe.
     
  9. LB427SC

    LB427SC Karting

    Aug 5, 2021
    131
    Wales, UK
    Full Name:
    Lloyd Barnes
    The image is a little dark, but that's with the lever in the 4th/5th gate. It wouldn't select either of those gears so I'm guessing the fork on the shifter shaft was just nudging the spigot for the 4th/5th sychro hub out of the way and moving in thin air.
     

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