SpitfireGeorge Posted April 2 Report Share Posted April 2 Hi guys, Selecting reverse in my Spit Mk3 has always been difficult. Before I refit the transmission tunnel I was wondering if anybody knew how to adjust the reverse stop pin to hopefully make selecting reverse easier? Cheers, Brett Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johny Posted April 2 Report Share Posted April 2 Hi Brett, have you downloaded the free manuals from vitessesteve.co.uk as these have a great drawing of how its supposed to be set up (all earlier Spitfires, Heralds and Vitesse/GT6 have the same). However the linkage also has a large affect on gear selection so have you checked all its bushes as these dont last long... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpitfireGeorge Posted April 2 Author Report Share Posted April 2 Thanks Johny I will take a look. I changed all the bushes as part of the general car rebuild. Cheers, Brett Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johny Posted April 2 Report Share Posted April 2 Including the gear lever pivot ball if worn? Heres the drawing if you have problems finding it... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpitfireGeorge Posted April 2 Author Report Share Posted April 2 Thanks Johny just going on line to download now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpitfireGeorge Posted April 2 Author Report Share Posted April 2 Found it and downloaded. What a great set of documents! Thanks for the info. Cheers, Brett Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpitfireGeorge Posted April 7 Author Report Share Posted April 7 Hi guys, My bolt is far lower down and does not line up with the stop plate as shown on the above drawing. Can the stop plate be lowered, about 1 cm in my case, or the gear lever raised? Cheers, Brett Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josef Posted April 7 Report Share Posted April 7 What you describe probably means something is worn out in the ball/cup/spring setup that the lever pivots on. There’s no way of adjusting anything higher or lower. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johny Posted April 7 Report Share Posted April 7 I would guess your circlip 69 has slipped out of its groove in the gearlever 72 which is very common. Its this that the spring 70 (which could also be broken or very weak) pushes against to keep the lever pulled fully up relative to the pivot ball 77... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpitfireGeorge Posted April 7 Author Report Share Posted April 7 Thanks Johny I shall take a look. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johny Posted April 7 Report Share Posted April 7 You certainly shouldnt be able to pull the gearlever upwards... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted April 7 Report Share Posted April 7 (edited) agree but if the alloy remote housing or the spherical ball has worn badly then the ball sits too low Pete Edited April 7 by Pete Lewis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpitfireGeorge Posted April 8 Author Report Share Posted April 8 Hi Guys, You were right the circlip had moved up the gear lever. It is a very loose fit and I am looking to tighten it some how. My stop pin has a flat along one side, is this to allow it to run under the stop plate when selecting reverse gear? Cheers, Brett Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johny Posted April 8 Report Share Posted April 8 Yes this is a common problem and it can be down to the groove being worn so allowing the circlip to slip out. Being loose certainly doesnt help... Also it sounds like the stop pin has worn flat as it should be round like in the Triumph drawing. What state is the stop plate in? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpitfireGeorge Posted April 8 Author Report Share Posted April 8 Hi Johny, I have not taken it off but it looks solid enough and undamaged. The groove on the lever is 0.520 inches diameter. Will see if I can get a better circlip. Will buy a new stop pin too. Cheers, Brett Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johny Posted April 8 Report Share Posted April 8 Yes the circlip groove gets rounded edges instead of being nice and square so the circlip wont stay in so well. Some people thump the gearlever down for reverse and out it pops.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted April 8 Report Share Posted April 8 if the groove is not well defined the clip will jump out, you may reform the circlip but a new one is best , if you have a dremmel a cutting disc can reprofile the groove. pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daverclasper Posted April 8 Report Share Posted April 8 (edited) Not text book!, though would araldite etc, secure it, as a workable bodge? Edited April 8 by daverclasper Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpitfireGeorge Posted April 8 Author Report Share Posted April 8 Thanks for your suggestions guys. I am going to get a couple of 1/2 inch spring washers off Ebay and try deforming them into a tight fit. I will let you know the success or otherwise. Cheers, Brett Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johny Posted April 8 Report Share Posted April 8 Didnt the snap ring come with the gearlever bush kit? Or is that the one that has come adrift? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpitfireGeorge Posted April 8 Author Report Share Posted April 8 Hi Johny, Yes but is a loose fit and sldes up the gear lever very easily. Cheers, Brett Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johny Posted April 8 Report Share Posted April 8 oh dear, after market quality strikes again Im afraid. Its a good idea to try to reuse as much of the original stuff as possible even if sometimes it doesnt look great... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Truman Posted April 8 Report Share Posted April 8 what about a small hole through the lever and roll pin protruding across and above the split ring 69, roll pin easily pushed out for future replacement of ball and springs, not personally tried so can't advise outcome. Re ball sitting too low I had one that pushed thro the remote I used a large thin semi spherical dished washer that fitted perfectly in the remote and it's still going strong years later. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johny Posted April 9 Report Share Posted April 9 Pin would work as a last resort to save an otherwise good gearlever but finding a suitable dished washer might be more difficult🤔 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Truman Posted April 9 Report Share Posted April 9 Can't remember where my dished washer came from I'm a hoarder for these sort of small things, when an electrical thing breaks down I strip it for all the sundry parts, bolts self tappers etc, drives the wife mad!! It looks similat to an arial outside finisher but I don't think there large enough. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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