How Much Gearstick Free Play Is Normal?

[Gingermonkey67]

Hi all

My four speed gearbox seems to have lots of sideways play in the gearstick. I was wondering how normal this is, as I have only had the van a week.

There is no 'notchiness' to the gear changes at all, just a mushy push in the general direction of the gear, and a lot of crossing of fingers! Its been a particular problem dropping from third into second, usually on a hill as you are losing revs, and it goes into fourth instead. There is also pretty much no way of telling if the box is in neutral or an engaged gear - the same amount of play is in the gearstick.

Wondered if this was totally ormal, or if the transmission linkages need new bushes and suchlike?

Cheers all

Dave

[ermie571]

they can be a bit like stirring porridge....but your description sounds pretty damn bad!

Welcome to the club...get yourself a haynes manual, and sart reading! Lots on here on gear linkage and how its set up too....

neutral should be movement the full side to side...in gear, not so much. Also, should be sprung loaded if in real good condition in neutral.

Aidan on here is our gera guru, but prob best to look at some pictures and find out what is happening with yours and read first.

But yes, yours sounds like it needs improving

Em
xx

[Gingermonkey67]

Thanks Em

I got the obligatory Haynes manual, so will have a detailed read in there. Its pretty bad as far as I can tell. When you have cars close behind you (as is usually the case!), and you hit an incline, its a bit scary when 50% of the time you go into 4th gear and slow down dramatically with no brake lights showing!
Even when it has happened, and you know you are in 4th, finding second is not an easy task. It needs looking at I think, probably a bush kit or something.

Cheers for replying.

Dave

[pocolow]

Sounds like wear in lever linkages. There is a kit you can get for the bottom of the gearstick itself( I did mine this year) which will help.
http://www.brickwerks.co.uk/shop?page=s ... gory_id=99" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Mark

[ermie571]

No worries Dave, just be grateful it isn't the five speed....boy are they fun the first few times out!!

three key areas with your gear linkage.....
above the spare tyre is the gear selection gate. Make sure lubricated, and guides are in good condition (drop spare tyre - careful, its bloody heavy!), gaze upwards.
In the middle of the bus you will find a join...make sure its tight
at the end of the linkage is the box - connects with an onion...make sure its lubricated.

Now, each can be adjusted....but that is like black magic to me!! Loads of detail on here and the wiki though.

Em
x

[Ralf85]

Sounds like wear in lever linkages. There is a kit you can get for the bottom of the gearstick itself( I did mine this year) which will help.
http://www.brickwerks.co.uk/shop?page=s ... gory_id=99" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Mark

I had the gearlever kit changed this year as well. It has made one hell of a difference.

Patrick

[Gingermonkey67]

Thanks guys

I had read somewhere that the linkages were a tricky job to do, but they may have been referring to the linkages under the length of the bus. Is the gear stick refurb kit an easy one to do?

Cheers for all of the replies!

Dave

[Hevsta]

it's worth checking that your ball joint is in one piece at the linkage box near the engine, (towards the right of centre on my van as someone in a previous post, "onion"). Mine has disintigrated and I am waiting for a new linkage box and rods- I have probs getting in certain gears (I'm a 5 speed) and can generally manage 1st, 3rd and 5th but serious probs with reverse, 2nd and 4th...

Before the ball from the joint disappeared, I was having problems with certain gear changes as the assembly was fractured.

Generally speaking though, there is a lot of play on the stick, and gear changes are not as slick as on modern cars, my sister has "wiggle patterns" on her van to get the different gears! A small tip though, if you are having difficulty getting into certain gears, try going into neutral and wiggling the stick side-side and then into the gear. I do this when I need to change down, as I have no probs going from first to second, so I wiggle the stick to the left and then into second gear...

[pocolow]

Thanks guys

I had read somewhere that the linkages were a tricky job to do, but they may have been referring to the linkages under the length of the bus. Is the gear stick refurb kit an easy one to do?

Cheers for all of the replies!

Dave

Relatively easy I droped the entire gear stick assembly out of the van (5 speed) and did it all on the kitchen table. Check this thread out. https://club8090.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=37&t=80357" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Mark