RogerH Posted November 14, 2018 Report Share Posted November 14, 2018 Hi Folks, yesterday me and Sue jumped into the RustBucket. Started the engine. Selected reverse. And ------ went forwards. Hmmmm, a bit odd. Knocked it out of reverse and the gearstick locked up solid. Thankfully the Saab does not have a gearstick. So a short while ago I stripped out the inside of the 4A and took the top cover off the GB. The gearstick was still locked up - so the fault lay there (may be). There were no signs of damage anywhere so removed the selector rods to see what was going on. The three rods have an interlock to allow only one rod to move at any one time. Very simple but clever. When I removed the centre rod I was expecting to find the little rod the holds the two balls apart - but it had been stolen. I'm sure I put it in there the other month when I was sorting out leaks at the rear O rings. I couldn't possibly have forgotten - definitely stolen. But Why It is only a small piece of rubbish steel - no secondhand value. Tomorrow I'll get a cheaper piece of steel (well it is repro !!!) perhaps that will put the robbers off. Roger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
pfenlon Posted November 14, 2018 Report Share Posted November 14, 2018 That'l teach you for going where others fear to tread, those rods are well left alone, and if you put really really thick old in the box, Geronimo. Roger, I'm sure I have a top selector unit somewhere or did have, If you want it I will try and locate it and get it to you? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stillp Posted November 14, 2018 Report Share Posted November 14, 2018 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RogerH Posted November 14, 2018 Author Report Share Posted November 14, 2018 Hi Pete, I'm sure Moss will have a pin; unless they have been robbed also. Roger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TorontoTim Posted November 14, 2018 Report Share Posted November 14, 2018 Maybe someone is trying to steal them all and create a monopoly :-o Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Grahamgl Posted November 14, 2018 Report Share Posted November 14, 2018 Roger, “ little rod that keeps the two balls apart” Take care you don’t get banned from here. Graham Quote Link to post Share on other sites
D Murton Posted November 14, 2018 Report Share Posted November 14, 2018 (edited) It is very sad day when such a well respected member has the little rod thay holds their balls apart stolen. Dave Edited November 14, 2018 by D Murton Quote Link to post Share on other sites
openroad Posted November 14, 2018 Report Share Posted November 14, 2018 Good old Fashioned Banter, cant be bad ! I am surprised too , that you haven't been banned Roger . Have fun refitting, the little Rod ! Conrad. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
John L Posted November 14, 2018 Report Share Posted November 14, 2018 Hi Roger Did your improvement to the selector seals work?.....Interested to know what you actually did to stop the oil coming out. Do you have quick fasteners for your gearbox cover?? The bolts don't have a chance to get rusted in..... John Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RogerH Posted November 14, 2018 Author Report Share Posted November 14, 2018 Hi John, I used the Q seals + a packing piece that kept the seals still. I put them in place with silicon gasket goo. They are not leaking. make sure your rods are not corroded - this will cause a leak. As an exercise of interest I cut a hole in the top of the top cover to expose the rods in a cavity that is not used. (some GB's have a plate here. I put a tie wrap on each rod to allow any oil to drip off. I'm getting quite good at taking the top cover off and whipping the rods out. Roger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
John Bracher Posted November 14, 2018 Report Share Posted November 14, 2018 2 hours ago, RogerH said: I'm getting quite good at taking the top cover off and whipping the rods out. Roger Theres something else that'll get you banned.......... Or arrested!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RogerH Posted November 15, 2018 Author Report Share Posted November 15, 2018 Oh dear. Disaster. The little interlock rod is not a normal spare part. Moss have none and I need it today. I shall have to do some measurements and make one. Pretty simple, the length being the critical dimension. Roger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lebro Posted November 15, 2018 Report Share Posted November 15, 2018 Have had good look on your garage floor for the lost one ? Bob. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rob Salisbury Posted November 15, 2018 Report Share Posted November 15, 2018 Hi Roger, Is it the dowel 105788 that you are missing? .... No hope for today but Rimmers have the item in stock, so it may be worth giving them a call. Cheers Rob PS, it's not lurking in the oil at the bottom of the gearbox is it? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dean Posted November 15, 2018 Report Share Posted November 15, 2018 A drill bit that will fit the shaft and cut a little shorter then the shaft diameter will work fine. Also I make the vent to the gearbox a little larger to help keep the pressure from forcing the oil past the shaft O-rings. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RogerH Posted November 15, 2018 Author Report Share Posted November 15, 2018 Hi Dean, I used a drill to measure the diameter and then turned up a pin. It was not on the floor as that is swept regularly. I'll look in the GB before fitting the top cover. Roger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RogerH Posted November 15, 2018 Author Report Share Posted November 15, 2018 Hi Folks, it is all back but not without a fight. When I took the top cover off it was stuck in a gear. After fitting a new pin the top cover had to have a gear fork moved to engage with a gear ring. Try as I might I coudln't knock it out of reverse. I depressed the clutch (I told it about sheared taper pins etc). In the end I took the top cover off to have a fiddle; it was then that I discovered it wasn't in reverse but 4th - Doh!!! Anyway it all functions nicely now. Roger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
boxofbits Posted November 19, 2018 Report Share Posted November 19, 2018 I think my story requires more violins than yours though... When I had the box out to replace the clutch unexpectedly just a few days before the RBRR, I found the clutch fork pin was broken. The advice was to also fit a roll pin in the clutch fork as a double measure against breakage. So, desperately short of time I ordered a new clutch cross-shaft, rushed over to an engineering shop about 10 miles away and persuaded them to drill and fit a pin same day whilst I got on a changed the rear hubs. I collected the part later, rushed back and worked into Wednesday night getting it back together. Thursday afternoon, great, finished all except the wiper motor. Took the motor over to the bench and what did I find ...the roll pin... ah well there’s always another day...you’re not the only one Roger! Kevin Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RogerH Posted November 19, 2018 Author Report Share Posted November 19, 2018 Hi Kevin, I sympathise deeply. We stupid people should not dabble with motorcars etc. may be take up gardening. Roger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fireman049 Posted November 19, 2018 Report Share Posted November 19, 2018 Hi Roger ~ Gardening !!! (Death before dishonour)!! Tom. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Hamish Posted November 19, 2018 Report Share Posted November 19, 2018 I spent the weekend trying to refit my gearbox. I got it to within an inch of fitting. It just wouldn’t go. So with defeatist resignation I struggled to get the box out convinced that the clutch plate was wrong. So clutch off as well. The clutch plate fits the gearbox shaft. They are a very precise fit aren’t they. So I am now back to a flintstones style TR3a. H Quote Link to post Share on other sites
boxofbits Posted November 19, 2018 Report Share Posted November 19, 2018 2 hours ago, RogerH said: Hi Kevin, I sympathise deeply. We stupid people should not dabble with motorcars etc. may be take up gardening. Roger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RogerH Posted November 19, 2018 Author Report Share Posted November 19, 2018 13 minutes ago, Hamish said: I spent the weekend trying to refit my gearbox. I got it to within an inch of fitting. It just wouldn’t go. So with defeatist resignation I struggled to get the box out convinced that the clutch plate was wrong. So clutch off as well. The clutch plate fits the gearbox shaft. They are a very precise fit aren’t they. So I am now back to a flintstones style TR3a. H Hamish, a difficult box is often the case. One can struggle for an hour or two. Have a cuppa go back to it and it will pop in. The box MUST be square with the back of the engine. Roger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Hamish Posted November 19, 2018 Report Share Posted November 19, 2018 (edited) 19 minutes ago, RogerH said: Hamish, a difficult box is often the case. One can struggle for an hour or two. Have a cuppa go back to it and it will pop in. The box MUST be square with the back of the engine. Roger Thanks Roger. I felt something must have been wrong. So didn’t want to force it. Tried it in gear and turning the rear output of the box hoping it would mate up and slide in. But without luck. Is there a way of using spirit levels eg one on the engine rocker and one on the gearbox top where the switches are ? Just to get the level alignment right. Then it’s only the other axis to worry about?! H Edited November 19, 2018 by Hamish Sp Quote Link to post Share on other sites
roger murray-evans Posted November 19, 2018 Report Share Posted November 19, 2018 When I was a younger man, I would straddle the gearbox, put a foot on each side of the bellhousing, and push and shove the thing in all directions 'til it wnet in! Good Luck! Roger M-E Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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