Hi there first time on the site we have bought a 1972 bay window called betty and its great used it 3-4 times this summer no probs but last couple times shes been out have had trouble selecting 1-2 gears any one got any ideas would be great!!!!!
Someone will probably come along with better advise but here's a starter There's a bracket around the bottom of your gearstick inside the van Loosen the screws, select 2nd then push the bracket against the gearstick from the left and tighten Try again Al
will try that thank you v much hope that is something simple like this been looking at worst case (clutch&gearbox) not cheep!!!!!!!!!!!
Is your clutch cable tensioned enough? Theres a wing nut on the gearbox to adjust it Old bays suffer from problems selecting 1st and 2nd its normally play in the linkages and bushes or poorly adjusted clutch cable Im sorry to tell you but the engine needs to come out and the gearbox moved a bit to replace all the bushes The upside is whilst the engines out you can easily replace all the fuel and breather hoses and clean out and inspect your fuel tank
ack i just bought all that bush kit for the gears as mine a bugger sometimes 1st and second and reverse but thats its own entity...didnt think you needed the engine out...so thatll have to wait a bit too lol!
Hi and welcome. As Paradox says up there ^ bushes are often the culprit, it is possible to replace some of them (all bar 2 i think) without removing the engine and gearbox and also the rear coupling, these parts are not dear and well worth doing to improve your gearchange.
I have a Scat shifter on mine that I won on eBay for 50 quid back in the day It has a lockout for reverse, and has very little movement. I love it. On my other bay, 1st is hard to get, especially after reverse. This is because you have to push the gearstick to the right slightly after de-selecting reverse before you can push it up to first, it doesnt spring into he right position, like a modern car would. This is compounded by panicing at lights. Take your time and get used to the feel of where all the gears are. It is always an interesting experience the first time you get a bus and they are all different! Good luck, Ade.
I had the same problem, but as paradox suggests a couple of twists of the clutch cable adjuster wing nut and problem solved.
Just thought that i would say a big thanks to you all , time to don the overalls and try to sort my bus out!
do not adjust the cable just yet with engine off try and select the gears. if you can its the clutch or cable. if you cant its the linkage or the box if you think its the cable you need to see how slack it is by getting someone to push the pedal while you are on the cable end. see if the arm has a bit more movement. if you over adjust the cable the clutch will drag and slip causing it to wear very quickly
