Gear lever play

Matatak · Post by **Matatak** » Tue Jun 19, 2007 11:13 pm

my gear lever has heaps of play

and i watn it fixed.
wt i put it down to was the shaft that comes out of the gearbox that a kind of bracket is slotted over and a roll pin goes through then the actual gear lever bolts onto that one.
the actual bushes on the lever seem fine but ill probly get some new ones aswell.
but the actual shaft that comes out of the g/box im thinkin is worn a bit and where the bracket slots over it theres to much room to move.

i have been told to get a peice of metal to try n take up the clearnace but that seems to be a hard thing to do as it will only need to be thin peice and i dont no any of the sizes liek of the shaft.

when i first took it apart i thought that thered just be a bush between the two bits of metal but then was kinda stumped when there wasnt..

anybody know wt i can do for it??

AndrewT · Post by **AndrewT** » Wed Jun 20, 2007 12:28 pm

New bushes should do it. They may look okay but I think you will find that they have shrunk over the years, the new ones should fix it up. They are pretty cheap (Approx $25 for a kit last time I got some). Sounds like you may be missing one of them entirely too.
Unfortunately there isnt really an adjustment for the gear shifter which can effect this, just new bushes or bodgy it up with a large bolt through it.

Lukily if you ever have similar issues with the dual range selector that does have an adjustment that can be played with.

**edit - I just realised you have an MY. I'm not as experienced on those 4spd gearboxes regarding selector adjustments but still, im 99% sure new bushes will be the best solution.

Matt · Post by **Matt** » Wed Jun 20, 2007 1:30 pm

As you said the other common problem is the shaft out of the gearbox with the roll pin through wears away over time. The easiest way to fix this is to take the roll pin out of it (actually there is 2) and remove the selector piece. Then slot (about 2-3mm wide) the selector piece horizonal to the ground. Then place all back together but where the roll pins where replace them with rated bolt and tighten up nice a tight. And is the shaft wears away just tighten it up. I did mine about 4 years ago and i think i have nipped it up once.

Hopefully that makes sense, if not i can take a photo, to explain it. Also i agree with AndrewT a new set of bushes while you are in there will help heaps.

Matatak · Post by **Matatak** » Wed Jun 20, 2007 8:39 pm

Matt wrote:...Then slot (about 2-3mm wide) the selector piece horizonal to the ground. Then place all back together but where the roll pins where replace them with rated bolt and tighten up nice a tight. And is the shaft wears away just tighten it up. I did mine about 4 years ago and i think i have nipped it up once.

Hopefully that makes sense, if not i can take a photo, to explain it. Also i agree with AndrewT a new set of bushes while you are in there will help heaps.

a photo would be good if ya coudl cheers
and the only part i really understood was to put a bolt and nut through and do it up tight..the first sentence that i qouted i dont understand
"Then slot (about 2-3mm wide) the selector piece horizonal to the ground"-that one

90brumby · Post by **90brumby** » Wed Jun 20, 2007 9:00 pm

yer that is wat i did with mine but did get ny new bishes and now i cant get into reverse in low range 4x4
but yes the bolt should fix it

Matatak · Post by **Matatak** » Wed Jun 20, 2007 9:04 pm

u didnt get new bushes?? i plan on gettin some but ill probly wait till friday and order em through work
i didnt think reverse worked in low range neway as the bar connected to the lever moves up into the reverse position, meaning it will knock out if trying to put it in low while in reverse

cooloothin · Post by **cooloothin** » Wed Jun 20, 2007 9:34 pm

Matatak, my 84 has always had play in the gear lever.. it's almost like a party trick

it's never been something that bothered me, and always been something that bothers people I give lifts to... hehe..

anyway - I have no idea what he did, i'm not a mechanic, but my uncle is and he was suspicious that there was a bolt / screw you could tighten up somewhere up in the selector area...

all he did was jack up one side of the car and crawl under with a screwdriver, and a minute later my gear lever was much happier to stay where it should be for any given gear. It has gotten loose again over time, but that time is years..

others with more knowledge might have a clue what i'm referring to. It certainly worked in the year-or-two short term though.

SCOOBIDOO · Post by **SCOOBIDOO** » Wed Jun 20, 2007 9:38 pm

Matatak wrote:u didnt get new bushes?? i plan on gettin some but ill probly wait till friday and order em through work
i didnt think reverse worked in low range neway as the bar connected to the lever moves up into the reverse position, meaning it will knock out if trying to put it in low while in reverse

Ya.it does hit when you have as much wear that you have..the sleeve which sits over the selector shaft..which comes out of the gearbox..this has to be slotted 2-3mm laterally..(look in the dictionatry)..then refit it and put your bolt through and tighten up..this will fix it and will feel like a new girlfriend..else you can redneck it and weld it to the shaft...this seem,s to be the norm for thinking in this forum.....

SuBaRiNo · Post by **SuBaRiNo** » Wed Jun 20, 2007 9:46 pm

DUDE!!! this problem is soo common... read this.... thank me later.

http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/80s/mick/ ... erFix.html

Dave

Matatak · Post by **Matatak** » Wed Jun 20, 2007 9:59 pm

SuBaRiNo wrote:DUDE!!! this problem is soo common... read this.... thank me later.

http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/80s/mick/ ... erFix.html

Dave

basically like puttin a bolt through it except it will work alot better coz of the groove cut into it
i liek the short shifter on the pic to..not something ill try but
but yet cheers for that i didnt actualyl think bout cutting a groove into it..might get onto that tomorrow night and see if theres a bolt and nut at work i can have.

Matatak · Post by **Matatak** » Thu Jun 21, 2007 8:18 pm

and i jsut realised that the bracket is actually quite damn thick and to get 5/16 inch (apparently someting like 6.5mm) will need like a angle grinder.
but coz its so thick there might not be much movement that can happen but neway ill do it and see wt happens.

SuBaRiNo · Post by **SuBaRiNo** » Fri Jun 22, 2007 8:08 pm

Not sure what your on about... but if your refering to the method in that link i posted.... and your cutting a slot in that sleave.... then yes u will need a grinder... and yes if you have a good strong bolt in there and u do it up tight enough it will have enough movement to close over the shaft tight.

Dave

Matatak · Post by **Matatak** » Fri Jun 22, 2007 8:22 pm

yer thats basically wt iw as tlakin bout..
i forgot to grab some bolts n that from work so i might go back tomorrow or find somehting at home to fit

SuBaRiNo · Post by **SuBaRiNo** » Sat Jun 23, 2007 12:29 am

I got the bolt i use to used from Bunnings... black thing it was.

Dave

steptoe · Post by **steptoe** » Sat Jun 23, 2007 10:42 am

i would try the genuine parts first before butchering the shaft with a grinder