Centering Gearstick

[upnatom]

Sounds depressingly like a gearbox out job to me 

[Scottsman]

I agree that this doesn't sound good but with Millau and summer fast approaching I think the question is how quickly does it have to be taken back to Ariel. Will it last until the end of summer or is there the possibility of a loose spring inside the gearbox that could cause some damage... 

[Bruce Fielding]

Since N. Perrtot just rebuilt the gearbox only a week or three ago at vast expense , I imagine it'll be fixed rather quickly (and for free)!

[AtomFun]

What's the current status of the problem Bruce?

[Bruce Fielding]

It's a problem...

It'll be fixed....

Possibly on Saturday...

Not by me!

[AtomFun]

Insomnia - dreadful thing!

[Bruce Fielding]

Nope. Just got home. Great night out! Now it's bedtime...

[Bruce Fielding]

[quote="Bruce Fielding"]
Since N. Perrtot just rebuilt the gearbox only a week or three ago at vast expense , I imagine it'll be fixed rather quickly (and for free)!
[/quote]

Well, not quickly, but for free and to the benefit of all owners with this problem. I believe that the modification made to mine could be made from now on to all cars. I can't actually explain it, but will show anyone interested at Rockingham.And it works brilliantly!

[Oli1122]

...as all informations about gearstick centering are given in this topic.
Has anyone tried the springs from mtec? They should stiffen up the self centering from the gearbox itself… just like the "bungee" mod i have seen in another topic.

http://www.mtecind.com/store/
you can order two variants of spring stiffness.
sport or race

instruction manual
http://www.mtecind.com/diy/shift-spring-install/

Just wondering if anyone has done this before and knows if this is a "gearbox out job"?
i tend to do this mod. but i'm not quite sure if the gear cable bracket which is for the left/right movement responsible give me enough space to wiggle or rotate the shift mechanism out.

[AtomMadStew]

If they are the detent springs with the ball bearings then it's a simple remove the 12mm and remove the spring with a small telescopic magnet and replace - a 2 minute job.
Stew

[smokin]

They are items 10 and 11 in the attached. Spring 10 is 1st/2nd return and 11 is 5th/6th

The how-to guide on mtec's site is great. So great in fact that I've ordered replacement OEM springs (£5 plus postage) so I'll be replacing my bungee cord temp fix early next week.

Oli, I'll let you know how I get on. I think this can be done without removing the engine but I'll confirm.

[Oli1122]

clearance issue is with item 13 ("oval weight thing") and the gear cable mounting bracket.
you can easily access the bolts but i'm doubting that you can slide the full item out. i guess you have to tilt it a little bit to get it out. but i'm not quite sure if there is enough space in the mounting hole of the gearbox.

if its possible to change it easy i will go for the race version from mtec.

to success smokin!

[smokin]

Hi Oli,

Tried to remove mine this a.m. ahead of spring delivery - (on my Atom 2 at least) I'm afraid it's engine out, or unmounted so the engine can be moved to the right. It does indeed snag on the cable mount but not by much.

There is play in the assembly and it can be rotated a bit but just not enough to clear the bracket. Spent a good 1/2hr wiggling and turning but since it needs to be in neutral to come out you can't swing the weight out of the way by putting it in gear.

A small amount of redesign of the bracket and this wouldn't have been a problem - tut tut Ariel

[Oli1122]

thanks for the info.
that sucks big-time!!! another smart engineering solution i guess. 

two ways to possibly solve this.

1. dismount the engine screws and try to move engine a bit left, right, up down whatever to get it out.
2. trying to cut of the "weight thing" on the assembly and weld it back on.

the whole engine out will be a bit overboard for these two springs imho.

[smokin]

I'm planning engine-out over the winter as I'm stripping the whole car down to have the chassis blasted and re-powdercoated. I'll leave my bungee in place until then and will probably go with a variant of your option 2 (see attached) i.e. grind off the weight and then drill/tap to reattach with screws.