Lancia Beta gear linkage problem

[BlimeyCharlie]

Hi all.

Cleaned up the the engine bay on my Lancia Beta coupe. Had car on ramps, all good.
Finished cleaning, car would not go into gear, so stuck on ramps.

Appears that the gear linkage has too much play in it, after cleaning. One bush in particular appear knackered, which is the one above gearbox that 'lifts' a lever up and down. Presumably this is not being pulled up enough, therefore still in gear.

Oh dear!

I have tightened clutch cable and no different. All gears can be selected, just physically too much play in the linkage.

What is the solution? New linkage, or can a repair be made?

Thanks in advance.

[BlimeyCharlie]

The problem I have is the same as if clutch cable had broken, but cable is fine. I think.

I can adjust cable manually so there is zero play and as tight as it will go, and if I start car with clutch dipped but in gear it is as if I've not dipped the clutch, so car shoots forward/backwards. All gears can be selected ok with engine off. Lever moves mechanism into gearbox.

With engine running it crunches terrible.

Car is on ramps so can only go backwards, but not enough as drive slopes up, so car is stuck.

Might try a new cable, in case it is stretching perhaps?

Car was fine until I cleaned engine bay, and one ball joint appears knackered, maybe through jet wash pressure and/or degreasing areas.

Any advice welcome.

[Warnie]

Might be different on my Alfa 3.2gt, but I I've just had to replace the 'top hat' bushes in my gear linkage due to the change being slightly stiff and not centring correctly. I also cleaned up and greased up the joints and bushes. The improvement was great, just an idea..

[BlimeyCharlie]

Warnie said:

Might be different on my Alfa 3.2gt, but I I've just had to replace the 'top hat' bushes in my gear linkage due to the change being slightly stiff and not centring correctly. I also cleaned up and greased up the joints and bushes. The improvement was great, just an idea..

Yes I'll have another look as raining today, so car under a cover.
I 'oiled' the joints yesterday but it was getting dark.

Will report back, but it must have been marginal before I cleaned it. You never know.

Thanks for your help.

[shouldbworking]

A bit late here, but just thought id hop in - BetaBoyz make new gear linkage parts that made a world of difference to my HPE - check http://www.lanciabetaparts.co.uk/ under the transmission section. No affiliation, just someone whose bought from there in the past.

[BlimeyCharlie]

Hi thanks for the above information about BetaBoyz.

From your experience, how easy/difficult is it to get the old ball joint out and bush and then replace with new one? The fit ball joint back in?

I don't want to bust something else. Do I need to grease the new bush prior to putting ball joint in?

I have got the new bush in front of me (from BetaBoyz) and have taken linkage rod out from the car. One joint is loose in the bush so there is play there and I think that is the culprit.

Thanks again in advance.

[shouldbworking]

BlimeyCharlie said:

Hi thanks for the above information about BetaBoyz.

From your experience, how easy/difficult is it to get the old ball joint out and bush and then replace with new one? The fit ball joint back in?

I don't want to bust something else. Do I need to grease the new bush prior to putting ball joint in?

I have got the new bush in front of me (from BetaBoyz) and have taken linkage rod out from the car. One joint is loose in the bush so there is play there and I think that is the culprit.

Thanks again in advance.

I can't comment on the difficulty I'm afraid as I had it done by Betacar whilst it was being restored there. I would expect to grease it up but thats just me.

[BlimeyCharlie]

Hi I got this problem sorted myself, though it took me a while.

I'll post something up about it soon, so other people can hopefully benefit.