Gear stick too close to tunnel cover? (6 speed)

Gear stick too close to tunnel cover? (6 speed)

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framerateuk

Original Poster:

2,730 posts

183 months

Friday 12th February 2016
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My 7 just came back from it's MOT and geo setup (I only had a quick drive but it's so much more composed over our rough roads now!), however I've still got a problem with the gearbox and I wondered if anyone else had experienced the same thing.

I've got the 6 speed box, and there's a bit of play in the stick itself. I noticed that occasionally on track, I'd shift into gear, only to have the gear not engage properly. We've ruled out the clutch, but it seems that the gear stick itself is right up against the sides of the hole in the tunnel top, and the slight movement of the box (which is on new mounts by the way) is causing it to knock out of gear on occasions.

After having a look at it last night, the stick really is pushed up against the tunnel top, and it's no surprise that it's not always engaging properly. Andy at QMech (who look after my car) suggested I take the tunnel top off and get a look at the gear lever mechanism itself before doing anything drastic (i.e. expensive) such as getting the box out.

Has anyone had a similar problem before? Any ideas what the problem could be?

mharris

148 posts

161 months

Friday 12th February 2016
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Sounds like you've already figured out the problem. But yes, the first course of action will be to remove the tunnel top and run it like that for a while to see if the problem persists.

You dont mention how old the gearbox is or its history..

framerateuk

Original Poster:

2,730 posts

183 months

Friday 12th February 2016
quotequote all
Car is an '08 Sigma 140.

I'm the 3rd owner, the previous owner bought it from Caterham - believed to be ex-demo. However! The De-dion dube has "changed for Autosport 09" written on it, so it's quite likely it spent a lot of time in 1st gear going sideways indoors!

Obviously running without the top on isn't really a solution, more part of diagnosing the issue. I was wondering if it's likely that the ball joint in the stick has worn, or given it's history, wear inside the gearbox itself.

If I can't solve it this year, will probably arrange for the box to be taken out next year and rebuilt.

mic

376 posts

232 months

Friday 12th February 2016
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If there is play in the gear lever you may find the plastic saddle, which locates the bottom of the lever on the selector rail, needs replacing.

framerateuk

Original Poster:

2,730 posts

183 months

Friday 12th February 2016
quotequote all
Thanks - sounds like the plastic saddle is definitely gone. I'll get the seats out and the tunnel top off when I have some time and see what the score is.

framerateuk

Original Poster:

2,730 posts

183 months

Monday 22nd February 2016
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For anyone interested, I got the tunnel out, gear stick out (after some swearing) and removed the existing plastic saddle and replaced with a new one.

You can see the wear on the old one here (left):




The gearstick now feels much better. Far sharper movement and no wobbles at all!