AC 3000ME Gear lever problems

Gear Selection Problems

Many first time users of an ME complain that gear selection is difficult. They find that the Ferrari style gate does not allow enough travel to select gears.

Even when the gear lever assemble is taken apart there seems to be nothing wrong and some owners have even taken out the gearbox and still found nothing wrong.

The problem is that one part of the lever assembly, a shaped and drilled neopreane dome, disintegrates over time so its no longer present on dis-assembly, the problem is that if you are not aware it should be present you would not notice it being missing.

When it has fully disintergrated, the mess it makes looks just like hard grease or chunks of dirt under the gear lever mechanisam when its taken apart. Without this part the only way to select gears is to lift the gearlever when selecting.

The following images and text describe the siple job to replace it.

A) Gearlever Knob
B) Gearlever
C) Coller
D) Reverse Peg
E) Top plate
F) Slider
G) Spring
H) Neoprean Dome
I) Coller Pin

Removal

Inside the car remove the gear knob
From under the car remove the front and rear centre underplates
From under the car remove thecentre cross brace
Inside the car remove the 4 bolts at rear of gearlever box and list off
From under the car remove the 4 allen bolts from lower gear lever taking note which way round the reverse plate between the rear 2 bolts is facing
From under the car pull down the assembly and push up the gear lever until they part
From under the car remove the gearlever downwards.
Clean all parts

Disassembly

Remove E, F, G from B
Remove I by pushing through C
Slide C up the shaft off the gearlever making sure you note which way round it goes as it must go back in the same place. This may well be very tight and need some force.

Assembly

Place H on shaft with dome downwards
Replace C, making sure I goes back in the same place and test fit I through C and B
With I removed
Drill a 4.5mm hole in H for I to pass through H, C and B
Replace I
Re-assemble G, F and E onto B
Apply grease between F and E

Re-fitting

Assemble the gearlever into its housing on the car in reverse order making sure that D is pointing towards the rear of the car. It is best to do this from inside the car as you can then feel when pin I goes into place
Replace the 4 allen bolts making sure the small reverse plate is the correct way rounds.
Replace all the underpanels and gearlever box.
Test

<<<<< Picture to the left.
Gear lever assembly as removed. Note you can see the coller with its pin through it. The neoprene coller is missing.

Picture to the right >>>>>
Gear lever with neoprene dome in place, ready for fitment to the car.

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