Morning all

[oolongcolluphid]

Greetings from North Yorkshire. Just bought a Bis 1988. Great little car in blue. Bought for a bit of fun and for my daughter. Seemed like a good idea at the time. However...
...I was out in it at the weekend and it lost all drive. Near-side drive shaft has broken;worn as hell I guess. I've took it to my regular garage and got a drive shaft kit from Ricambio. Snag is my mechanic last worked on a 126 back in 1979. He trained on BL stuff in the 70's. He's baffled as to getting the old drive shafts out. I was hoping to get away without removing the gear box. I'm not that familiar with older fiats. Any wise words to this newb?

[gsxr126]

Hi and welcome.

You cant change the driveshafts without removing the box, and you also need to dismantle it partly. The bellhousing needs to come off, then your entire diff assy will fall out, then replace the shafts in the diff, then reassemble and refit.

[1973/126]

 Welcome to the forum and all the fun.
 What is the mileage on the car? Are you sure is the driveshaft it`s broken/worn?
 These cars do suffer with the driveshaft couplings, but driveshaft failure is not that common, but if it needs to come out than it`s a gearbox out job as GSXR said.

[oolongcolluphid]

Hi Thanks for the advice. The car has approx 60 000miles on it ( believed genuine?) The spline end of the shaft has worn almost smooth. My man is on removing the gearbox as we speak. Gonna do a few more jobs whilst he's got it. Who's good for parts in the UK?

[Rusty's Uncle]

Hello & welcome   I am sure that the fun driving will start soon after your initial set back.
As for "wise words" you went shopping at the "Harrods" of the Fiat car parts world. Nice to have new but you probably could have saved a lot if you had got on the forum first and requested a good used drive shaft and drive coupling flange. I assume that you are replacing both parts ?
If your mechanic is not so confident with the gearbox then the old aircooled Haynes manual can be got quite cheaply and covers a lot of the Bis mechanics. Or you could subscribe to the Forum and then get access to the full Bis workshop manual online.
I would suspect that the spline was running dry (not greased) , possibly damaged or missing flange to shaft seal and can also be agrivated by a dodgy wheel bearings or drive couplings.

[gsxr126]

It may have also happened with the couplings coming loose as it was with mine 

[landyman]

hi welcome to the madness.. i grew up near skeeby used to drive 500s when i lived there last, good for the tight bits round the river frenchgate and barrack hill brakes interesting coming down.

[oolongcolluphid]

Hi Landyman,
I didn't get as far as Barrack hill, it broke down on the roundabout near the garage on Darlington Road. Gave the AA recovery man a giggle though. Looking forward to getting it right.

[Dariusz]

Hi ..im from Poland so if someone need some parts or informations about Fiat 126 .. send me mail
[email protected]    i think i can send all parts, new or second hand. And btw hello all

[alicia]

W E L C O M E to the forum and enjoy 

[oolongcolluphid]

Drive shafts sorted and back in and we have lift off. However...
... there is a massive vibration developed under revving. I've renewed front and rear mountings, checked clearances to the body all round, nothing else moved or renewed. Exhaust seems solid. Its undriveable. Any ideas?

[oolongcolluphid]

Put the Bis away over winter. Now we've got some good weather I thinks it's time to address the vibration. Turns out my mechanic friend had the flywheel off and neglected to mark it. He denies that this is causing the trouble. I could slap him. I'm going to get on this weekend and pull the engine to see if I can spot the flywheels original position and put it back. Here's hoping. 

[bis13]

if you paid the mechanic he is then liable to put it right, if not report him to trading standards as this is a fundamental mistake he has made on a car that is in no way technically difficult to fix.

[oolongcolluphid]

Engine out, witness marks found on flywheel fortunately. Shoved it back in and it runs sweet now. Replacing hoses and some wiring to do then we are off!