Club126UK

Fiat 126 Chat => Fiat 126 Mechanical Problem Solving => Topic started by: gsxr126 on April 14, 2011, 09:05:30 AM

Title: Gearbox Problems
Post by: gsxr126 on April 14, 2011, 09:05:30 AM
Hi all,

Just put together my gearbox using all new parts. When i put the rear housing on it was moving ok in the neutral position, so I tried sliding it into some gears. I put it in second i think and now it seems to have locked in that gear. Any ideas on what could be wrong?

Any advice is appreciated - especially from the gearbox experts.

Thanks
Dan
Title: Re: Gearbox Problems
Post by: GTMaster on April 14, 2011, 10:30:14 AM
Are you trying to move the gear linkage shaft by hand (that is not with the gear stick)?
When i had my gearbox on the bench and tried selecting gears it did seem as if it got stuck in some positions but as soon as it was fitted all the gears could be selected fine using the gear stick.
Title: Re: Gearbox Problems
Post by: gsxr126 on April 14, 2011, 04:00:39 PM
Thanks GT,

Yes i was trying to move it by hand. I thought that might be the case. Hoping it should be ok once all bolted up. Thanks once again, your a legend - BTW if your planning to come to OZ i'll sell you one of mine for a BB price if you like, but not my 10K klm minter  - be warned though, there's an absolute minimum of spare parts here, my gearbox cost me $1300 to buy/import and my time to assemble it all.

FYI The 31K klm niki on oz ebay ended up going for $3200, the most I've ever seen one go for in oz recently.

Cheers
Dan
Title: Re: Gearbox Problems
Post by: GTMaster on April 16, 2011, 01:04:27 PM
$3200  :o I guess they are rare there... thinking of getting a Niki, Lada or an old Skoda (105) first as i've mostly done work on those before getting into an Aussie V8 ;D
Title: Re: Gearbox Problems
Post by: AlleyNiki on April 17, 2011, 07:53:41 AM
I guess us Aussies need a 126 spare parts emporium.

Hmm, could be a good venture if I had the funds to start it up!


Alastair
Title: Re: Gearbox Problems
Post by: skelz on April 17, 2011, 08:26:33 AM
given the cheapness (is that a word) of 126 fan it would be hard to match his prices
Title: Re: Gearbox Problems
Post by: GTMaster on April 17, 2011, 10:43:29 PM
If i had large enough pockets i'd fill it all up with spares seeing how hard they're to obtain over there... 126fan is the cheapest i reckon (so are other Polish parts available on allegro, just i don't know polish), but luckily i'll also have friends over here to have them send stuff to me should the need ever arise...
Title: Re: Gearbox Problems
Post by: gsxr126 on April 18, 2011, 03:24:05 AM
I think I found the problem, but its still not sorted yet. I had my doubts on the straightness of the gear selector lever in the front casing. It turns out that its bent (bloody scumbag selling me new/poo parts) and wont slide into gears properly. So here we go again - pull it out, replace casing with an old one I have and try again. Thanks for all the advice guys.
Title: Re: Gearbox Problems
Post by: Rusty's Uncle on April 18, 2011, 07:05:26 AM
Hi Dan , just back from rubbing shoulders with your Kiwi mates from across the water  :D
I have been following the forum when I could get internet access but did not chip in too much. Anyway I did agree with GTMaster that you need a bit more leverage to check the gear change. I have tended to use a screw driver pushed through the coupling mount hole . Allows you to push / pull & twist as well.
Having rebuilt a few 126 boxes I have a box of used parts if you find you are short of anything  :)
Title: Re: Gearbox Problems
Post by: gsxr126 on April 18, 2011, 10:14:31 AM
Thanks Rusty,

I should be right for parts, If you could give me a rundown on how to replace the front casing (just in case i did something wrong) it would be greatly appreciated.

PS: did you slip that blue 500 in your luggage when in NZ?

Cheers
Dan.
Title: Re: Gearbox Problems
Post by: gsxr126 on April 22, 2011, 06:38:30 AM
I replaced the housing and lever with a spare i had and it seems to be fine when in neutral, but when i try to select any gear and it slips into that gear, it gets stuck and wont budge. Loosening the side cover to release tension on the 3 springs and ball bearings allows it to move back into neutral, but when i tightent the side cover back up it does the same thing. Any ideas?

I cant really put it back in until i sort this.
Title: Re: Gearbox Problems
Post by: smallcox on April 22, 2011, 08:05:20 PM
This  plate with the spring and balls is what hold the selector shaft in place when selecting a gear.

If you have no trouble selecting all gears with this plate removed as you mentioned above then as all the above have said this is normal. With the gearbox complete if you select a gear, then go for neutral you have to knock it out off gear with some thing like a screwdriver and it is very tight. Once you have your gear linkage connected the mechanical advantage will be less effort ;)

trust the force
Title: Re: Gearbox Problems
Post by: gsxr126 on April 24, 2011, 10:54:31 AM
Thanks Smallcox,

Maybe Yoda doesnt like me. I trusted the force when I initially put it in - turns out the selector lever was bent in the housing,(bloody brand new part too). I have since changed the housing and that seems to have sorted the "stuck in gear" problem.

Now i have a new problem - the adjuster bolts on the side of the gear lever are at full forward and I still cant get 1st & 3rd gears. I'm guessing I may need to move the whole engine/gearbox assembly rearward to get the shifter in the right place. It seems that minute movements in the placing of the running gear have a large effect on where the shifter sits and how it works.

Anyone got any other ideas on how to sort this???

Thanks Dan
Title: Re: Gearbox Problems
Post by: Pete126 on April 24, 2011, 08:14:09 PM
Silly question, Are the gearbox/engine mounts in good condition? I had a similar problem and changing the gearbox mounts sorted it without re-adjusting the gear lever :thumbup
Title: Re: Gearbox Problems
Post by: smallcox on April 24, 2011, 08:26:06 PM
Once you prove the gearbox/engine mounts are sound, there are adjustment on the gearshift to allow you to push it forward/backwards.
 If you undo the two bolts on the r/h/s off the tunnel (M8's )and push the selector mechinisum forward a couple off mm and tightern it again, this may help. :-
Title: Re: Gearbox Problems
Post by: Rusty's Uncle on April 24, 2011, 09:16:59 PM
Have you had the gear lever housing out to inspect it ? The most common fault is the bush that presses into the back of the housing and supports the linkage bar. The hard plastic bush can either wear , crack with age or just fall out. Either way if this happens you will not get all of the gears.
Title: Re: Gearbox Problems
Post by: gsxr126 on April 25, 2011, 01:58:44 AM
Pete - I just purchased new geabox mounts, but thanks for asking - good way to eliminate any potential problems. When it was stuck in gear with the old housing, putting force on the assembly didnt move it so I'm thinking the mounts are all good.

Smallcox - The adjuster bolts on the side of the lever are at full forward as mentioned, and i still cant get 1st & 3rd.

Rusty - that might be the way to go, I'll have a go at it today (lucky its Easter and I've got some time). I'm assuming you mean Item No:4 in fig 6:15 in the manual?

Thanks for the help guys. Hopefully once its sorted i'll get to start a new thread - I've had a bit of a property change and have had to lose a few of my nikis lately. The total now stands at 4. Due to this I havent had time to work on any of my cars let alone the projects :cry: for the last four months. The daily will need to go outside but at least I'll be able to work on my 1000cc project once the daily is sorted. Hoping I can get it sorted by the end of the holidays. Thanks once again for all your help guys.