gearsticks

[rm2was]

Hi,

I've just snapped the gearstick on my van, so need to hunt out a replacement. It's a 1990 1.9 petrol 5 speed, is there any difference between the 4 and 5 speed sticks or are they all the same? also anybody got one in the cambridge area?

[Aidan]

4 and 5 speed gearsticks are different as is the front linkage
5 speed stick is very complicated thing and not available new at this time
4 speed stick is available new improved from Brickwerks

[Ralf85]

Are 5 speed gearboxes and linkages more prone to failure or do the problems apply to 4 speeds as well?

Patrick

[Aidan]

5 speed stick is overly complex imho and not all the bits for it are currently available and once the nylon tips on the bottom have worn/cracked/chipped then the metal wears the guides and it becomes a bit imprecise
4 speed also has nylon guides but on the front linkage part and these also wear/crack/chip and can cause a poor shift
I'm trying to get a repair kit for these developed as to replace the front linkage is a ton plus for a new one inc labour fitting all for the sake of a square inch of nylon
when they are good, they are good, but they weren't designed to last for ever, and the more drivers each vehicle has had, especially those with a heavy hand and little mechanical sympathy the worse they can get obviously
both the original gearsticks were made from hollow seam welded tube that isn't the strongest in the world and the grub screw fitting for the collar creates a stress point which is where they tend to break when being wrestled about because the guides aren't good
Brickwerks replacement 4 speed stick is solid

[peasant]

If you've snapped it where most of them snap, at the ring with the grub screw, just find a rod or bolt that fits into the broken ends and weld the whole lot together again.

Had that done on mine and the weld conveniently replaces the ring to hold the spring down. Just make sure the spring is on and down before the stick gets welded and that the alignment is correct.

Had all of this done in my van in situ without disassembling anything other than the rubber boot ...for a fiver ...by the friendly garage down the road

[jake1953]

Mine was broken and repaired as per peasant's description above except it cost me a tenner.
It's lasted 2 years so far

[rm2was]

Thankyou for your replies, I'm a bit of a keen welder so it looks like the best plan will be to stick it back together.