Stiff Gearchange ?

[Paul.P]

Took Blacky out today, & the gearchange was really stiff, both up & down & cross gate as well. She went into gear, just needed lot more than normal pressure. I have new AB cables fitted, & please bear in mind this car has been rebuilt, whereupon the gearchange was very light. I was told the arm that comes out of the gearbox is prone to corroding & siezing, especially on cars that arn't used a lot, anybody any experience of this ?

[Doug]

sounds like an adjustment problem -- but I'll let those with real knowledge/experience with the AB cables come to your rescue.

[ESM]

Are the AB cables just fitted? I had this problem during one of my (many) AB cable fits (I had a prototype and it took a few attempts to get the mounting plate right). The problem was that I had managed to twist one cable around the other out of sight in the tunnel. This made the shift very heavy. I had to undo the cables, unfankle and re-fit to correct.

[Paul.P]

Gearchange has been fine, cables went on last July, although its only done approx 800mls since then, really noticed this since xmas, after it came back from Newcastle, 200mls in the grit & salt, thats why i thought it more likely to be something siezed.

[Gary]

I'd have thought you'd be pleased to have anything stiff at your age !

[Paul.P]

Treated with the contempt it deserves !

[ESM]

Disconnect the cables from the gearbox and see if the cables move freely when they are not connected - should help isolate the source of the problem

[Paul.P]

Thanks Alan, will try saturday morning & let you know .

[Paul.P]

Just to let you all know, incase its of any help to someone, after taking advise from lotus garage, i sprayed the linkages with WD40 that are on the gearbox, where the ends of the cables fit, & this freed the gearshift completely, so it looks like it was road grit & salt that had siezed these. When i get chance, i will have them off, clean properly, & grease.