1970 Merc Gearbox Help

[Dodge318]

My 1970 280 S has a manual 4 speed column shift mounted on the steering wheel.

If you go round a tight corner and change gear at the same time - the gear linkage comes unattached! The connector rod from the gear selector is joined to the rod from the gearbox just underneath the steering column and its one of these ball joints which keeps coming free. Then it gets stuck in whatever gear you were in!

Any ideas?

Thanks, Steve

[stevieturbo]

Repair the balljoint linkage so it doesnt happen ?

[Dodge318]

Yeh balljoint is fine but there is pressure coming from somewhere which is dislodging it on cornering.

Would dodgy gearbox / engine mounts cause this?

Steve

[Pigeon]

I encountered this problem on a Vauxhall Victor I think it was. Three speed column change. The problem was that although the balljoint looked fine, there was a little wire clip which was supposed to prevent the ball from popping out of the socket - or rather, there wasn't a little wire clip. If you didn't know it was supposed to be there you wouldn't notice it was missing. It went through two almost invisible holes on the socket part and locked the ball in. Bit of steel wire the right diameter and some bendery with pliers and we were back in action.

[Dodge318]

Interesting - thanks for this, i'll make a closer inspection. I've already bought some cable ties ready for a botch job!

[stevieturbo]

Wonder if cable ties were even around back in 1970 lol