Where have my gears gone? - Pudding stick

J

Jules65

Member
Help!!!

Just replaced a broken center consol and whilst it was off noticed that the 3 bolts on the small housing on top of the remote gearbox (where the gear lever passes) were 'very' loose. Tightened said bolts and replaced the consol only to find that so as to engage 3rd/4th gear the lever had to come far over to the right thus bending (extremly) the plastic consol.

I assumed I had put the plastic reverse switch/sleeve on the wrong way round so changed it. This rectified the bending consol but now the gear lever is like a pudding stick and first/reverse are difficult to engage! :angry:
 
Dispite my attempts to remember which way round the small plastic sleeve on the gear lever went, it would appear I got it wrong, hence the inability to locate the gears. However I am back in the same position of having the gear lever going so far to the right to engage 3rd/4th that the front ashtray has to be removed so as to allow the plastic center consol to 'flex' (this is most probably why it broke in the first place and I have now had to change it).

Is it possible that some mounting on my car has sheared/bent and so the gearbox is not sitting squarly in the tunnel? Does the gearbox have to be lined up when it is removed and this has not been done on mine? Would a faulty front engine mount cause this problem. Could it be this is the root/cause of the strange noises I am getting from my rear suspension (transfering along the drive shaft)?

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Jules65 ???
 
You didn't mention the year of your Rover so.....
In the early system, there is a control rod that connects the bottom end of the gear lever to the gear selectors. Near the end of the control rod, there is a finger lever which is fixed with a bolt requiring a 1/2 inch socket. If that finger has rotated around the control rod, you would experience the gear lever movement you describe. You gain access from the right side of the tunnel after removing a large round plug. In the ideal world you would have the Churchill tool to set it. Otherwise improvise with coat hangers. If you have the later type of gearbox with the housing extension, I will have to throw my cards up in the air.

Eric
 
Thanks for the offer of help Eric,

My P6 is a 1972 3500s and as such I believe it is a series 2. The problem appears to me that the housing extension is not sitting where it should and the apperture/hole in the top of the tunnel where the gearlever comes through is not directly over the center of the remote gearbox. Hence 3rd/4th are too far over to the right!

Jules 65 :(
 
Hi All,

Managed to have a look at the underside of the car today at a local garage. The mechanic used to own a P6 and was very friendly. He was of the opinion that the problem with the remote gearbox/extension was the rear engine/gearbox mount. He pointed out that there are some 'spacers' on the 4 bolts that secure the mounting to the underside of the car and that they are different sizes on mine (looking from the diff towards the engine the spacers on the right side are 1" long where as the ones on the left side are only 1/4" to 1/2"). In the mechanics opinion this could be twisting the gearbox to the right hence causing the misalignment.

If anyone knows what spacers I am refering to could they tell me what they should look like (assuming mine is wrong). As I have been right through the 'Haynes' manual and 'Rover' manual with no success re a diagram. ???

Jules65
 
I don't remember any spacers when I removed the gearbox mount. The heavy castiron mount bolts directly to the transmission tunnel brackets. Although I haven't reused the four speed gearbox I did keep the fixings bagged up (Some attempt to be organised!!) I'll have a look and let you know what I find in there. Would be helpful if someone with a 4 speed car could have a look underneath for you though...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top