Gearbox probs arrrrrrhhhhh

adrenalin rush · 9th September 2009, 20:34

Ok here are the pics of the offending

It is the gear selector cable that is directly underneith the gear lever, looking up from the floor to the sky. We are unable to 'pop' off the ball socket that attaches the gear cable selector to the gear stick.
Is there a good method to use or is it mearly brute force? I have tried to leaver it with a spanner, wrentch etc...but not a bit of movement!
I need to totally replace the cable so it has to come off! (also looking for a cable asap!)

Thanks

Departed · 10th September 2009, 06:48

The MGR manual says they are replaced as a unit. They probably don't come off at all. Most likely the ball housing is shaped after being fitted. Other possibility is that the pin with the ball comes through from the back, then the backplate (has the dimples in it) is put in and the housing is shaped around it to hold the ball in.

Now you have it that far apart, replace the lot. Take out the screws around the edge (4) and it drops down.

Greeners · 10th September 2009, 07:21

It's replaced as a unit, which was the problem when fitted to earlier cars as the gear knob needed to be changed as well...

Try Les at SMC or Messenger for a replacement.

adrenalin rush · 10th September 2009, 14:39

Oh s thanks will try SMC
Anyone got one ?????????????????????????????????????????????????? ?????????????????

adrenalin rush · 13th September 2009, 23:07

ok sorted part but am i being thick or is it that hard
to remove the gear stick

Departed · 14th September 2009, 12:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by adrenalin rush

ok sorted part but am i being thick or is it that hard
to remove the gear stick

I can only speak for the early version.

You just pull it off.

Of course that really means you pull, and pull, and go red then blue in the face, and pull some more.

You then decide this can't possibly be right as you've almost lifted the car clean off the ground by it's own gearstick.

So you read the manual, and check the howotos and everything, and go back and pull some more and it still won't budge.

So finally, you get something to go under the gearknob and lever it a bit. Then it slips off like you hadn't been trying before.

At least that's what happened to me. Careful if you do use a tool that you don't damage the leather or whatever. I used a pair of long nosed pliers which slipped between the base of the gearknob and the white plastic collar underneath (that stays on the stick) after I'd moved the top of the gaiter out of the way.

adrenalin rush · 14th September 2009, 17:07

Ok so fitted the new part up to the point where you connect the cable to the U shaped bracket that is attached to the engine.
It slips in easily without the clip in place, but if you put the clip on the cable it doesn't go on at all!
Is there a good way to get the cable on?
If you need more explaining, let me know.

Departed · 14th September 2009, 17:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by adrenalin rush

Ok so fitted the new part up to the point where you connect the cable to the U shaped bracket that is attached to the engine.
It slips in easily without the clip in place, but if you put the clip on the cable it doesn't go on at all!
Is there a good way to get the cable on?
If you need more explaining, let me know.

Sorry don't understand.

Mine just went in, then a wiggle to seat the clips.

Are the clips sitting properly in the groove on the cable outer end?

adrenalin rush · 14th September 2009, 18:58

Yeah sorry was not a very clear explanation.
I've taken some photos to 'try' and clear things up.

This is the part 3/4 of the way along the gear selector cable, nearest the engine.
The gap (circled in red) has to slot into here (red arrow):

It is then held in place with a clip similar to this (didn't take a photo so appologies for the poor MS Paint effort)

The cable slots in easily without the clip in place, but with the clip attached it won't slot in at all.

Departed · 14th September 2009, 19:08

OK, so now I understand what you mean, but still not the problem.

Mine went into the slot OK, but struggled a bit getting the 'wings' back in the right place.

I have a feeling the two U bits an cable ends are slightly different sizes so you can't get them in the wrong slots, so maybe this is the problem?

Do they go in partway, but not all the way to the bottom, or just not go in at all? Check the clips because if I'm right and the slots are different sizes, so will the clips be.

Remember too that the 'wings' go in last and hook into the little notches close to the opening of the U. I think there's a little lump in the bottom of the clips that has to drop into a slot in the bottom of the U as well.

9th September 2009, 20:34	#1
adrenalin rush Gets stuck in MG ZT 190 + Anthracite Grey commission no 002172 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Twickenham Posts: 597 Thanks: 23 Thanked 64 Times in 32 Posts	Gearbox probs arrrrrrhhhhh Ok here are the pics of the offending It is the gear selector cable that is directly underneith the gear lever, looking up from the floor to the sky. We are unable to 'pop' off the ball socket that attaches the gear cable selector to the gear stick. Is there a good method to use or is it mearly brute force? I have tried to leaver it with a spanner, wrentch etc...but not a bit of movement! I need to totally replace the cable so it has to come off! (also looking for a cable asap!) Thanks

10th September 2009, 07:21	#3
Greeners Moderator MG-ZTT Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Ware, Herts Posts: 19,798 Thanks: 161 Thanked 1,249 Times in 1,036 Posts	It's replaced as a unit, which was the problem when fitted to earlier cars as the gear knob needed to be changed as well... Try Les at SMC or Messenger for a replacement. __________________ *David* Impecunity is the mother of ingenuity Useful how to's for common problems Car Of The Month Jan 2014 [SatNav Power Down] [Coolant Level] [SatNav Repair] [Diesel Non Starting] [Paint Codes] [Rear Light Seals] [Reversing Light Switch] [Bleeding Brakes][Sunroof Drain] [Early ZT's][Instrument Pack Diagnostics][ATC Diagnostics]

10th September 2009, 14:39	#4
adrenalin rush Gets stuck in MG ZT 190 + Anthracite Grey commission no 002172 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Twickenham Posts: 597 Thanks: 23 Thanked 64 Times in 32 Posts	Oh s thanks will try SMC Anyone got one ?????????????????????????????????????????????????? ????????????????? Last edited by adrenalin rush; 10th September 2009 at 14:55.. Reason: Beging begins

10th September 2009, 06:48	#2
Departed Retired -- Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: -- Posts: 3,785 Thanks: 0 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts	The MGR manual says they are replaced as a unit. They probably don't come off at all. Most likely the ball housing is shaped after being fitted. Other possibility is that the pin with the ball comes through from the back, then the backplate (has the dimples in it) is put in and the housing is shaped around it to hold the ball in. Now you have it that far apart, replace the lot. Take out the screws around the edge (4) and it drops down.

13th September 2009, 23:07	#5
adrenalin rush Gets stuck in MG ZT 190 + Anthracite Grey commission no 002172 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Twickenham Posts: 597 Thanks: 23 Thanked 64 Times in 32 Posts	ok sorted part but am i being thick or is it that hard to remove the gear stick

14th September 2009, 17:07	#7
adrenalin rush Gets stuck in MG ZT 190 + Anthracite Grey commission no 002172 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Twickenham Posts: 597 Thanks: 23 Thanked 64 Times in 32 Posts	Ok so fitted the new part up to the point where you connect the cable to the U shaped bracket that is attached to the engine. It slips in easily without the clip in place, but if you put the clip on the cable it doesn't go on at all! Is there a good way to get the cable on? If you need more explaining, let me know.

14th September 2009, 18:58	#9
adrenalin rush Gets stuck in MG ZT 190 + Anthracite Grey commission no 002172 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Twickenham Posts: 597 Thanks: 23 Thanked 64 Times in 32 Posts	Yeah sorry was not a very clear explanation. I've taken some photos to 'try' and clear things up. This is the part 3/4 of the way along the gear selector cable, nearest the engine. The gap (circled in red) has to slot into here (red arrow): It is then held in place with a clip similar to this (didn't take a photo so appologies for the poor MS Paint effort) The cable slots in easily without the clip in place, but with the clip attached it won't slot in at all.

14th September 2009, 19:08	#10
Departed Retired -- Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: -- Posts: 3,785 Thanks: 0 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts	OK, so now I understand what you mean, but still not the problem. Mine went into the slot OK, but struggled a bit getting the 'wings' back in the right place. I have a feeling the two U bits an cable ends are slightly different sizes so you can't get them in the wrong slots, so maybe this is the problem? Do they go in partway, but not all the way to the bottom, or just not go in at all? Check the clips because if I'm right and the slots are different sizes, so will the clips be. Remember too that the 'wings' go in last and hook into the little notches close to the opening of the U. I think there's a little lump in the bottom of the clips that has to drop into a slot in the bottom of the U as well.