Gear Linkage / Stick Issues

[lemmingzappa 75 1 Cars]

I fitted a gear linkage kit from Miles yesterday, and all seems to be working ok.

 

I don't know the name of it, but there's a piece of metal which runs parallel with the gear rod which goes between the gear stick on the 'L'. But this piece of metal seems to have some play in it, so I went under the car and found the nut which you have to reach through the subframe with a 13mm socket extension. But when I try and tighten the nut, both the nut and the bolt it's attached to spins freely (I also noticed there's some sort of metal clip attached to the bolt above the subframe, but I have no idea what it does so I just left it).

 

The reason I wanted to tighten the piece of metal is because I thought it might be why my gearstick is sloppy, or do I need to adjust the rods (if so which ones).

I looked in the haynes and there's also supposed to be a cam and a stopper under the gearstick gaitor, but I couldn't see those, have they been removed in the past ?

 

My 2nd problem is since I tryed to tighten that nut, something squeeks when I push it into 1st gear only, is this related or just coincidence ?

[EdCherry 34 1 Cars]

Did you grease the linkages up before you fitted them?

 

They most likely need adjusting yes.

 

The Second post with the rod that runs parallel is your pivot point on the gear rod, it enters the rubber sandwhich where there is a bolt. To tighten you'd have to grip the post with something like mole grips I think, the clips removes the rod.

 

Your play will now most likely be on the L linkage.

[AndyJ 1]

The L-shaped bit (bell-crank) is supposed to have some play in it as standard, its quite a loose fit on its post and has a spring washer that lets it "flex" a bit when you push it into gear. BBM (and others i expect) do a kit that replaces the standard bushing setup to eliminate this play. Apart from this, the most likely reason your gearchange is sloppy is the plastic balljoint cups in the end of the rods have disintegrated, have a look and see what kind of nick they are in. Also check for any free play in the stick itself, as the bushes that hold it in can wear pretty badly and have a similar effect.

[lemmingzappa 75 1 Cars]

Did you grease the linkages up before you fitted them?

 

Yes

 

Your play will now most likely be on the L linkage.

 

I have fitted the Quadrant bush that Miles sent me, but I ended up damaging it when trying to fit the bronze parts. It's all together but it doesnt sit perfectly flat and I had to file out the inside at a slightly offset angle. But it seems to move freely so I'm not sure why it's squeeking ?

 

Apart from this, the most likely reason your gearchange is sloppy is the plastic balljoint cups in the end of the rods have disintegrated

 

I have fitted new pugracing rods.

 

Also check for any free play in the stick itself, as the bushes that hold it in can wear pretty badly and have a similar effect.

 

These are the bushes I can't seem to find, I lifted up the leather gaitor but couldn't see anything there

[EdCherry 34 1 Cars]

Its inside the rubber sandwhich! you have to remove the surround, underneath there is about 9/10 10mm bolt, undo them and lift the top rubber off to expose the parallel bar you were speaking about attached to the stick with a bolt through it.

[welshpug 1,657]

you need to place a 13mm spanner at the base of the balljoint on the subframe whilst you tighten the nut inside the subframe.