Hi, Just drove an '85 Mondial QV Cab today. Great experience, but the force of the shifter just off neutral feels weak. If you move the lever left and right from the neutral position, the force needed seems minimal to go from the R-1 gate to the 4-5 gate back to neutral. If you move the lever left and right from neutral quickly, the force becomes basically zero. Waiting a few seconds in the neutral position brings the force back to the original, minimal amount. Its almost as though there are 'centering springs' that are being impeded by hardened grease. Any idea which part needs cleaning and lubrication? A diagram would be awesome. I have searched the forums to no avail. Otherwise, the shifting is great and very solid while engaged in gear, with no pop-outs. The position of the shifter is also correct in neutral and gear. Thanks. SNB
I think you've nailed it... The side piston and the whole shifter can get pretty gummed up. Not a Mondi, but here are my 308 shifter pics. http://www.flickr.com/photos/moseley_ferrari/sets/72157622040395978/ Rick
Rick, Thanks for the post and the awesome pictures. In the parts diagram and the pictures, regarding that side piston: does it provide force in both R-1 gate direction and the 4-5 gate direction from neutral? Is it spring-loaded? How does one clean and regrease it? Is it accessed from the console side or from the bottom? Again, not having much success using the search, but my search terms might be wrong. Any links to DIY links on cleaning that piston and mechanism are much appreciated! SNB
If it's working right, it should "home" at the 2/3 neutral position and "load" both in the R/1 and the 4/5 directions. Don't know about the Mondi, but on the 308 you remove the center console and the whole shifter comes out with 1 bolt on the rear linkabe and 4 bolts on the body (plus the wires to the backup switch). I've found it easiest to wrap some long wire ties (you could use string) to hold the upper and lower clamshells of the shifter body together then unbolt. Otherwise the spring loading of the shifter handle itself pushes the body halves apart. Once out, just disassemble and clean. Grease and reassemble. Rick
I once spilled a drink (orange juice and vodka, IIRC) into my shifter and it stiffened up as you described.. I poured some Royal Purple 20 - 50W into the shifter gate (as that's what I use in the engine) and worked it thru all the gears manually and it freed it up again... I didn't have to even take the shift plate off.... Lots easier than removing the shifter from the car!!!
That's an interesting situation and fix, but this is probably more a chronic buildup of dirt and old grease that could use a full cleaning and regreasing. Some more questions: 1) Am I correct in thinking that the spring provides load by compression in one direction and tension in the other? 2) There is only 1 spring, correct? 3) Also, is there a positive joint between the shift lever and spring, or is it located just by the spring's force? Thanks! SNB
No, yes, no... look at my pics. (link above) There is one spring. It applies pressure to a small piston cup. The face of this piston cup engages a flat on one side of the shifter ball. This also orients the shifter, rotationally. When you move the shifter to the left, the bottom of the flat pushes against the piston. When you move it right, the top of the flat pushes on the piston. BTW, in the picture below, that is not the detent spring. That is the up/down spring for keeping the ball in the socket and for reverse lockout defeat. Rick Image Unavailable, Please Login
That makes perfect sense, and also jives with the fact that there is some variable rotational play in the shift lever. I can now visualize the mechanism in my head. Thanks! SNB
