[Staowners] GEARBOX LINKAGE

[George Simpson - Forums]

We're just back from a 500km weekend run to the Cotes de Bordeaux, a 
hilly wine region just outside Bordeaux where the local Chamber of 
Commerce organises an  excellent, two day rally. There were at least six 
pre-1920 and many other pre-war cars. Our Alpine was the only Sunbeam 
Talbot although there was one 'series' Alpine.

All went well with the newly cleaned tank and electric back-up pump but 
the w/e was spoiled by the gearbox linkage. In the past I have mentioned 
the "one millimetre" adjustment problem between selecting 1 - 4 and no 
reverse or reverse and 1 + 2 but no 3 + 4. In spite of many adjustments 
over the w/e, I was unable to have all 5 gears available at the same 
time. In the process of adjustment, I did discover an interesting twist. 
If I adjusted the cable so that I could select 3 + 4, the moment I tried 
(successfully) to select reverse, I was then unable to re-select 3 + 4. 
I would then push the cable in a millimetre further and try again ... 3 
+ 4 were available but the moment I tried reverse, 3 + 4 disappeared. To 
have 3 + 4 available, I needed to push the cable a long way in and 
reverse was no longer available.

Is it something connected with the gearbox itself or is it simply the 
cable? The simple way out would be to find a Hillman Hunter gearbox and 
change the gearbox. An alternative would be to see if the cable is too 
'tired' and whether a new cable + outer would do the trick. We have 
another rally coming up at the end off May and if I have no solution, I 
will take the Moke because driving the Alpine is no longer a pleasure.

Any suggestions/solutions from the group? Does anyone have a spare 
Hunter gearbox!!!

George
Cognac

P.S. At 3,000 rpm - my cruising speed on the autoroute - I have 
something that is between steering wheel shake and scuttle shake. The 
next time I get the chance, I will see whether a momentary 'clutch in' 
has any effect or whether is is the balance of the new Michelin X's.