Problems Changing Gear

[Noblescort]

During the morning session of the car limits activity day on Friday, I fluffed a few gearchanges which I put down to my own ineptitude. On the way to the pub at lunchtime though, changing gear became a really physical operation. The fore-aft movement had become REALLY stiff and there didn't seem enough throw on the lever to engage 1st and 3rd properly, it felt as if the selector was almost engaging the gear but not quite - with the inevitable gear-grinding noise. In the afternoon I had to be really forceful to engage 1st and 3rd gear. When I left the airfield, it got even worse. At one point I really struggled to get the car out of 4th gear. At this point I decide not to risk it and opted to drive it home before it broke. This meant I didn't make it to Alex's or the meal (hope you all had a good time).

I've taken the cable off the gearbox and the gear lever movement is still really heavy, so I'm suspecting lever/cable rather than the 'box itself. Anyone else suffered this? I'm going to remove the cable from the lever to try and identify the culprit. Any ideas gratefully received.

[snuffy]

I had a problem with mine whereby I could get it out of gear ok but it was very hard to get it into the next gear at high revs. At low revs it was fine. It was the clutch pressure plate finger springs - they can break or wear. It might be something like that ?

[worty]

When I first bought mine changing gears was always serious hard work but I presumed they were all like that .
When I took it into the factory for a service they were totaly amazed I'd been able to drive it at all. New gear linkage and it was all sorted .
What had happened is that the wire within the sheath had become unspun and was jammed within the sheath . It was only the brute force that was moving the whole asembl;y that allowed me to change gear .

Get the cable assembly checked out first

worty

[F.C.]

Noblescort said:

During the morning session of the car limits activity day on Friday, I fluffed a few gearchanges which I put down to my own ineptitude. On the way to the pub at lunchtime though, changing gear became a really physical operation. The fore-aft movement had become REALLY stiff and there didn't seem enough throw on the lever to engage 1st and 3rd properly, it felt as if the selector was almost engaging the gear but not quite - with the inevitable gear-grinding noise. In the afternoon I had to be really forceful to engage 1st and 3rd gear. When I left the airfield, it got even worse. At one point I really struggled to get the car out of 4th gear. At this point I decide not to risk it and opted to drive it home before it broke. This meant I didn't make it to Alex's or the meal (hope you all had a good time).

I've taken the cable off the gearbox and the gear lever movement is still really heavy, so I'm suspecting lever/cable rather than the 'box itself. Anyone else suffered this? I'm going to remove the cable from the lever to try and identify the culprit. Any ideas gratefully received.

That sounds like a cable type problem.
F.C.

[Adrian W]

Sorry to hear about this, I thought nobody broke on the day.

[Noblescort]

Thanks for the help, guys. Have yet to get the cable out but from your comments it sounds like the prime suspect.

Had a quick look on the Wiki, but couldn't find any details of the cables. I'm assuming that they were specially made for the Noble?

[Buxton]

I had a problem with gear changes some time ago, and it was nothing more serious than the cable adjustments coming lose. Give these a check as if they are lose then you will find it difficult to chnage gear.

[sean_goodman]

Buxton said:

I had a problem with gear changes some time ago, and it was nothing more serious than the cable adjustments coming lose. Give these a check as if they are lose then you will find it difficult to chnage gear.

setting up procedure is in the noble build manual