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| Anyone else have a FWD Getrag? Shifting question... (Page 2/3) |
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Raydar
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JUL 13, 06:18 PM
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| quote | Originally posted by sanderson231:
Also worth checking to see if shifter moves easily with both cables disconnected in the engine compartment
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Fairly easily. Not as easily as I would like, however.
I'm going to take the shifter apart and see what's what. If nothing else, it'll be cleaned and lubed.
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sanderson231
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JUL 14, 12:15 AM
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Check the shifter bushings. Rodney has a 5-speed shifter rebuild kit for $37. ------------------
formerly known as sanderson
1984 Quad 4
1886 SE 2.8L
1988 4.9L Cadillac
1988 3800 Supercharged
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Blacktree
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JUL 14, 08:09 AM
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| quote | Originally posted by Raydar:
Update... First and Second gear are back. I just wasn't getting enough movement of the select lever to make it all the way into the 1-2 gate.
I adjusted the end on Rodney's "do not adjust" cable, for a bit more travel. 
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I had to do the same thing, on my Fiero with a 3.4 V6 and FWD Getrag. It also had the Rodney Dickman adapter kit, and his select cable. And I was having trouble getting the shifter into 1st and 2nd gears. When I talked to Rodney about it, he felt the cable shouldn't need to be adjusted. But my car didn't get that memo. 
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Raydar
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JUL 14, 08:22 AM
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| quote | Originally posted by Blacktree:
... When I talked to Rodney about it, he felt the cable shouldn't need to be adjusted. But my car didn't get that memo.
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I understand. I certainly don't fault Rodney's cable. My (apparently original) select cable had the same "too short" issue.
There still may be something wrong with the shifter. I plan to check that in the next few days, as time permits.
(I might even have one of Rodney's kits in the drawer, as sanderson alluded to.  I know I've got a couple of Rodney kits, still in their zip-locks. Just forget what they are.)
Other than adjusting the cable, my only option at the time would have been to bend the select cable bracket towards the select lever on the trans. The cable is easier to "un-do" when/if I finally find the real issue.
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Blacktree
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JUL 14, 12:11 PM
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I don't fault Rodney or the cable either. After all, we're putting together custom DIY drivetrain setups, and that involves a lot of variables. So while in theory, the cable may be designed to not need adjustment, in practice that may change.
I look at it from a practical standpoint. The cable had an adjustment mechanism, and I used it. That fixed the problem. And I was happy.
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Raydar
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JUL 15, 05:33 PM
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| quote | Originally posted by Blacktree:
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I look at it from a practical standpoint. The cable had an adjustment mechanism, and I used it. That fixed the problem. And I was happy. |
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True enough.
And I (along with a lot of other Fiero faithful) am one of those people who can leave nothing alone.
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Raydar
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JUL 15, 05:48 PM
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I've removed the shifter and taken it apart. "Brake-kleened" everything in sight. Lots of old congealed grease. No cracks.
Part of the shifter assembly is a plastic arm that is moved side-to-side by a "cam"(?) on the bottom of the select shifter assembly. That side-to-side goes through a pivot, and becomes forward and backward motion to operate the select cable. The cam is a snug fit in the hole in the arm. Snug enough to bind, just a bit. Too snug, I'm thinking. I intend to clearance that arm with some extra fine sandpaper, before lubing everything up, and putting it back together. (It occurs to me that the plastic arm may not have liked the Brake-Kleen, so I'm going to let it dry thoroughly before I do anything.
So... what is everyone using for lube when you reassemble a shifter? The service manual recommends chassis grease, but I'm sure there's something much more slippery, out there.
Another question...
WTH is the spring for, that goes between the middle of the select arm, down to the steel rod at the bottom of the select arm.
This spring. (I should add that the bottom rod in my assembly has some collars that are locked in with set screws. It's not going anywhere.)
Picture borrowed from Jncomutt's post. Thanks![This message has been edited by Raydar (edited 07-15-2022).]
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sanderson231
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JUL 15, 06:57 PM
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Just looked at a Getrag shifter. In the car so can't see everything. I don't see a cam. It looks like a ball and socket affair. When the shifter moves the ball side-to-side it causes the end of the plastic/steel lever to move fore and aft due to where the pivot point is located I'm not sure if the plastic is just there to keep the ball in place or if it's the bearing surface. Actually the plastic reminds me of the plastic ends of the cable in the engine compartment so maybe it is the bearing surface. The spring seems to put some upward force on the ball - maybe to keep it in place. I like the Lucas tacky red grease although haven't used it on a shifter.
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Raydar
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JUL 15, 10:16 PM
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| quote | Originally posted by sanderson231:
Just looked at a Getrag shifter. In the car so can't see everything. I don't see a cam. It looks like a ball and socket affair. |
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Ball and socket is probably more accurate. But it's not a ball, either. It's actually a cylinder shape, kind of standing on end. ("Cam" is all I could think of at the moment.)
As the shifter moves side to side, it actually slides up and down in the plastic... bellcrank - as well as moving the bellcrank side to side. Interesting affair.
Edit - "I see", said the blind man.
The shifter has already been rebuilt using Rodney's kit. It uses a cylinder instead of the ball, in the socket. It also includes the collars for the shaft, that are secured with set screws.
http://rodneydickman.com/pr....php?products_id=170[This message has been edited by Raydar (edited 07-15-2022).]
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sanderson231
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JUL 15, 11:52 PM
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My shifter is definitely a steel ball not a cylinder but either should work ------------------
formerly known as sanderson
1984 Quad 4
1886 SE 2.8L
1988 4.9L Cadillac
1988 3800 Supercharged
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