Too much play in gear stick, rebush gear selector kit?

[Phil Stag]

Hi, one of the first thing I'd like to work on is to tighten the gear selector so it doesn't feel so vague. I have read somewhere that its a common problem with a quick fix, part number 519770 at rimmer bros. Its a bush kit gear lever linkage. At £14.75 I thought great, rang the guy he said there is nothing for the stag. The kit must be for another car...
Any ideas? Thanks

[GDPR]

Edit: I have made the assumption the selector is on an auto, but having re-read, this could be a manual - if a manual, then just ignore

Although it's a sod to get to, the pivot bolt that allows the lever to move side to side to run through the gates works loose. Remove the plastic selector quadrant, remove the gate slide, then the rivets that hold the metal gate and you can just get to the bolt.

Tighten it just enough to remove the play but still be free side to side, re assemble

[Phil Stag]

Hi kryten, sorry to mentioned it was Manual. Thanks for quick reply.

[davidf]

Are you sure all the right components are there in the top of the gearbox extension, where the lever fits? Particularly the spring 145796?

Also, there are two screws with pin ends which come in from each side to control the side play of the lever.

155299 in the picture

[GDPR]

The manual stick operates directly on the selector rods - it is likely that the gearstick itself is the worst offender.

There should be a tiny spring and plunger on the tip of the stick where it engages on the selectors - that is often missing, and takes play and buzz out, plus the pins in the remote that engage on the lever ball can be slack as one , or sometimes both are adjustable - if it's slack the lever can rotate slightly and give the impression of movement/vagueness - it's obvious which one and how to adjust - just tighten it until the free movement goes but the lever still articulates easily.

Finally the cover cup and Spring where it attaches the lever to the remote need to be secured correctly to the gearbox, including the little 7/16" head bolt on the rear face(not fitted to all gearboxes I've seen), or it all moves and feels wrong - loads of grease on the lever ball, cup and gate slide too

Do all this and provided the lever and remote housing aren't completely worn, it should improve the gearchange no end

The diagram that David has put up will help considerably in identifying the bits I mentioned - thanks mate

It should be noted that the Stag regardless has a less than sporty short gearshift so there is considerable movement required for changes, but it should feel taut and accurate.

Russ

[DJT]

^ Wot 'e says...

The little spring (137988) and plunger (112424) can be fun to keep in place when refitting the lever. A good dollop of thick grease helps.

[Guest]

That little Spring pinged across my garage and disappeared into the Ether some years ago, I've never replaced it, maybe I should

[susiedeer]

That little Spring pinged across my garage and disappeared into the Ether some years ago, I've never replaced it, maybe I should

Don't buy the sping from Rimmers, it like a mini valve spring and impossible to fit. Get it from LD parts as it the correct size and "strength" and can be fitted and does take up the wiggle on the gear stick.
Cheers
Andy

[nib]

Don't buy the sping from Rimmers, it like a mini valve spring and impossible to fit. Get it from LD parts as it the correct size and "strength" and can be fitted

Wish I had known this last year, thought there must be some knack to get it to fit, tried the packing with grease method, think it currently resides in my mates pit somewhere.

[Phil Stag]

That is a lot of very good advice, thank you ALL for your imputs. Cheers,

[Phil Stag]

That little Spring pinged across my garage and disappeared into the Ether some years ago, I've never replaced it, maybe I should

Done that job yesterday, a bit of Araldite to keep the spring and the pin in place worked a treat,
Philippe

[davidf]

Doesn't Araldite slightly reduce the flexibility of a spring?

[Phil Stag]

Just at the tip of the spring and the pin, grease in the middle, in the vice gentle pressure for five minutes. Once in and starts working the little glue that was there breaks down. I know cause I had to do it twice!
Hope this helps,
Philippe

[davidf]

Just at the tip of the spring and the pin, grease in the middle, in the vice gentle pressure for five minutes. Once in and starts working the little glue that was there breaks down. I know cause I had to do it twice!
Hope this helps,
Philippe

Very subtle !!! Clever trick.
I had images of the whole thing smothered in Araldite, sort of like a potting compound. As in - "I'll make this b***dy thing stay in place if it's the last thing I do!!!"