Gear change problem - Bellcrank?

OK, due to my complete ignorence regarding the mysteries of cars I really don't know what I am looking for :oops:

The cable gaiter is completely perished, so I have ordered a replacement, but that isn't the cause of the problem is it?

I've taken a couple of pics so that I can get some advice





Is this how it should look and, if so, does that mean the problem could be at the gear knob end?

Thanks.

Laz1957 wrote:-

OK, due to my complete ignorence regarding the mysteries of cars I really don't know what I am looking for :oops:

The cable gaiter is completely perished, so I have ordered a replacement, but that isn't the cause of the problem is it?

I've taken a couple of pics so that I can get some advice

Is this how it should look and, if so, does that mean the problem could be at the gear knob end?

Thanks.

that looks pretty much ok, altho I can't see the state of the vertical cable.

You need to get someone to try to get all the gears while you examine what's happening at the bell crank (in photos)

Get a helper to sit in the car while you grovel...ahem...observe, underneath.
First get them to move the gear lever front to back. You should see the lower cable move.
(On my car when this cable broke the gearshift just went limp.)
Next have them move the cable side to side. This should move the upper cable.
(Apparently this cable seldom breaks.)
If they move or seem jammed there may be another problem.
Have you tried lubricating all of the linkage bits?

The gear lever moves forward and backward with no resistance.

However it won't move side to side at all which means a problem with the upper cable (is that correct?)

Or maybe the problem is at the gear shift end - I guess I better check that end too

I'm certainly no expert as my car is all I have to go by but it does point to a problem with the upper cable or the bellcrank.
Once the car is up in the air things may be a bit more obvious. Before stripping out the console I would be inclined to pop the cables off the linkage at the rear and see if the gearlever and cables move with them disconnected. If you were to hold the cable ends and get an assistant in the car to move the gearlever you will be able to tell if the cables and the gearlever assembly are free. It could be that the bellcrank has siezed. If everything is free that would point to a problem with the gearbox, which of course is the last thing you want. :sick:
Rich

its unlikely, but I wonder if the bell crank roll pin has sheared

Sorry for my ignorance but what is the bellcrank roll pin exactly? :oops:

But what's this? It looks like a broken piece of metal.

I'll go and look now

The parts in the lower section are the bell crank assembly.
15 is the bell crank itself
16 is the roll pin

David Aiketgate wrote:

But what's this? It looks like a broken piece of metal.

Is that a picture of yours :shrug: or laz1957?? ~~ is that at the gearbox end or front end

Saved the picture on my T Bar file, thank you. :thumbsup: