J

JB Normandale

New Member

• Sep 15, 2017

• #1

Evening Guys,

Last weekend whilst driving through traffic in town my 1980 Series 3 109 gear lever snapped clean about four inches from the ball joint. The box is stuck in 3rd and needs a new gear lever fitted.

The lever shows signs of a previous weld so want to replace the lever. I've order a new one but is there anyway I can replace the lever without having to pull the entire gearbox out?

Your advice would be welcomed.

Cheers

JB

 

jamesmartin

Well-Known Member

• Sep 15, 2017

• #2

JB Normandale said:

Evening Guys,

Last weekend whilst driving through traffic in town my 1980 Series 3 109 gear lever snapped clean about four inches from the ball joint. The box is stuck in 3rd and needs a new gear lever fitted.

The lever shows signs of a previous weld so want to replace the lever. I've order a new one but is there anyway I can replace the lever without having to pull the entire gearbox out?

Your advice would be welcomed.

Cheers
yes you need to remove tunnel and bulkhead diaphragm stick is held on by 4 bolts

Click to expand...

 

freelance

Well-Known Member

• Sep 15, 2017

• #3

Yes, should be a bayonet fitting holding down a spring on the ball of the gearstick , you just need to remove tinwork and any rubber gaiter for access
And introduce yourself in the appropriate place!!!

 

C

Colthebrummie

Well-Known Member

• Sep 16, 2017

• #4

It's easier if you can get a gear lever with the mounting bracket still attached to the end. After removing the tunnel cover its four bolts to take the lever and bracket off. The back two bolts are a bit difficult to get at but only on a two swear word scale.

Col

 

Big Sandy

Active Member

• Sep 16, 2017

• #5

You can see how its fixed to the box in the above. The black part comes off first, and then the bolts that hold the stick (silver bit holding the ball) to that are underneath. You'll need to take the footwell floors out, and the gearbox tunnel. I have the seatbox out in the above photo...you don't need to go that far.

Hope that helps.

Edit...I have the bolted part of the bulkhead tunnel off too, the bit the gearbox tunnel fits too. You shouldn't need to remove that either. I took it off for access to the engine/gearbox bolts.

 

cornish rattler

Well-Known Member

• Sep 16, 2017

• #6

If your good with stick welder or know someone who can come and weld it for you it can be done in situ, years ago someone tried knicking my dads 2a outside work and snapped the gear lever off from the ball he just got one of the engineers to weld it back on after they got it back to the workshop just round the corner from his works

 

C

Colthebrummie

Well-Known Member

• Sep 17, 2017

• #7

God knows why they snap in the first place, they are very strong, however, once one is welded, it will likely break at the weld again. I've seen a couple of broken one that had been previously welded and the welds had broken.

Col

 

cornish rattler

Well-Known Member

• Sep 17, 2017

• #8

Colthebrummie said:

God knows why they snap in the first place, they are very strong, however, once one is welded, it will likely break at the weld again. I've seen a couple of broken one that had been previously welded and the welds had broken.

Col

Click to expand...

I suppose it could do but he had the 2a for another 10ish years after that without it snapping again

 

Big Sandy

Active Member

• Sep 17, 2017

• #9

Only had one break, Mrs BS's swb, right at the ball, and also when going into 3rd. That got welded back on again. I've never snapped one half way up.

 

cornish rattler

Well-Known Member

• Sep 17, 2017

• #10

I've seen pic's of one a while back on one of the forums where it had snapped about 4" from the ball and they welded it back together and welded a sleeve over the join for extra strength

 

DarrenHS3

Active Member

• Sep 18, 2017

• #11

^ thats what i would do for a proper job. make a root gap on the actual stick, weld it, profile it back to round, sleeve it, weld it

 

boguing

Well-Known Member

Full Member

• Sep 18, 2017

• #12

Seems to be more common than I thought. My SIII stick broke on my first day of ownership. Getting a friend to come out with a generator and welder cost me more than a few beers.

 

cornish rattler

Well-Known Member

• Sep 18, 2017

• #13

Yeah not saying the op was but a lot of peeps who come out of car ownership into a series tend to be heavy handed and don't change gear properly

 

C

Colthebrummie

Well-Known Member

• Sep 20, 2017

• #14

cornish rattler said:

Yeah not saying the op was but a lot of peeps who come out of car ownership into a series tend to be heavy handed and don't change gear properly

Click to expand...

That's is true but if you got a steel bar the same thickness as a gearstick and tried to snap it in half, it would be impossible. I think there was a large number of gear sticks for series 3 that were faulty from the factory. If anything they would bend, not snap and nearly aleays in the same place.

Col