Missing stud near shifter socket

[V12StealthHunter]

I've got a bit of an oily mess near the shift socket cover. I was going to remove the cover and put some sealant on it. Then noticed I'm missing a stud? near the top right hand side of this photo. That looks a little scary. Is that somewhere in the gearbox now?
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3lhQMEbAWSA/U ... C_0006.JPG

[76was124]

I am guessing not as that's in the shifter area vs the gearbox and likely came out with the nut still on it. Can you tell if the stud is just missing or snapped off?

Do you have the boot off the shifter? Maybe someone else could confirm this, but I think that's the reverse lockout stud that is missing which prevents your from accidently going into reverse when shifting down from third to fourth gear.

BTW, if you reduced the image pixel size to something like 800x600 I think the whole image will be viewable in your thread and you won't need the hyperlink.

[FiatMac]

Maybe someone else could confirm this, but I think that's the reverse lockout stud that is missing which prevents your from accidently going into reverse when shifting down from third to fourth gear.

That is correct. The stud has an extension into the interior of the shifter housing mates up with a tab on the gearshift lever that prevents going to reverse unless you push down on the gearshift lever. This prevents accidental shifts into reverse.

[V12StealthHunter]

Good to know. I found that spiderroadster.com has the part;
http://www.spiderroadster.com/124shift1.htm

Code: Select all

18 	4148579  	REVERSE LOCKOUT PIN 	$16.33 	 
19 	10791021 	NUT  	               $1.09 	

Can that just be threaded back in from below with the gear lever in neutral? Or do I need to remove the shift lever first to get it aligned somehow?

[76was124]

Can that just be threaded back in from below with the gear lever in neutral? Or do I need to remove the shift lever first to get it aligned somehow?

You would be okay in neutral, but I would put it in 2nd gear (its a little safer if you are under the car )
The shifter has a square tab that jets out and hits the stud to prevent going into reverse unless you depress the shaft at the same time. Depressing the shaft allows the tab to pass under the stud to get it shifted into reverse.

[V12StealthHunter]

Thanks a lot. Good to know. I have a feeling my shifter needs to be pulled up? But I could be wrong. I just felt it had a springy action when I pulled it up but nothing when I tried to push it down.

EDIT: Does any one know the thread size for the lock out pin? Or if you've removed yours, can I have it? Thanks.

[76was124]

Thanks a lot. Good to know. I have a feeling my shifter needs to be pulled up? But I could be wrong. I just felt it had a springy action when I pulled it up but nothing when I tried to push it down.

That's sounds backwards? It's probably worth taking it apart seeing how you were missing the bolt, the previous owner may have had it apart too and put it together wrong. The other possibility is the retainer nut on the shifter shaft is loose, which is known to happen. You get to it by removing the cover plate with the three screw from underneath the car. It is directly below the shifter. You can see it in your picture.

[FiatMac]

Thanks a lot. Good to know. I have a feeling my shifter needs to be pulled up? But I could be wrong. I just felt it had a springy action when I pulled it up but nothing when I tried to push it down.

I missed that you had an early car. The early spider transmission did require that you pull up on the gearshift to get into reverse I believe. Not sure what year the change was made to push down.

[76was124]

I missed that you had an early car.

I missed that too! And just learned something (pulling up for reverse on early models).