I am wanting to make my gear shifter feel a lot nicer than it does, so have stripped down the shifter itself - only removed the shift lever and bottom plate.
This is what I have found:









I am quite sure that the end of it has very advanced wear on the rod.
Does the bottom plate look ok?
What else wears? The alloy union that the rod ball pivots in? Do these generally require replacing?

Any tips/help greatly appreciated.

I was just looking at mine today. And yes, I believe that does look pretty worn at the base of the rod. Mine has a small grove from running on the edge at the base, but nothing like that.

The base plate looks OK, but maybe a bit too curved - I'll have a good look at mine tomorrow to compare. The roll balls look fine to me.

I think that curved plate at the bottom is just the reverse detent that forces you to lift the shifter before it will move across into reverse. I don't think it makes the actual 1-4 gear changes any different. I have seen several late mokes with the bottom plate installed upside down so anyone can drive them. That is anyone who doesn't know to lift for reverse.

So the wear on the end of the shaft isn't making your shifts sloppier.

M

I suppose if the shift it sloppy enough it will wear the bottom plate and gearstick when trying to get 4th gear.

Marky the late mokes had a differnt bottom plate that was specifically made/modified by the factory to be fitted up-side-down because that had fitted the other side of the bottom plate with a spring mech to act against the bottom of the lever instead of that curved plate

i know it sounds funny but if you get the chance to take a late moke plate off you should see the new design spring thing attached to the "now" upper side

& to willy,,, yes the stick is worn on the bottom & Mark is right with it only effecting the reverse lock-out mech

but the slop can easilly be reduced dramatically by simply fitting a quick-shift yeah sorry i`m cheating but it really is that easy

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No offence intended here but--> anyone writing a book about minis 30 years ago may not have experienced such worn or stuffed-with components as we are finding these days.

You should put your heart & soul into everything you do.

I was thinking about doing that.

Ok so where is the slop coming from?

Shall I drift out and inspect all the roll-pins?
What about the aluminium 'carrier' (for want of better word) that is inside the shifter housing? Does this wear heavily?

I want it to have a "new" feel before it goes into the car.

Have a close look at the slot on the side of the gearstick. The part which sits in the top of the shifter. If the slot is flogged out, or the pin in the shifter housing part which sits in the slot is worn then the gearstick can flop around a bit. So if you think of it as the pivot point slopping around. Sorry for the really bad explanation.

Otherwise the play is possibly at the other end of the rod change or in the box.

I was having a chat to my local Mini shop a while ago about this exact problem, and the guy there said yes, that "carrier" thing that the ball on the shift lever sits in does wear quite a bit.

Which reminds me, I should go back & see if he's got any of them in stock now; he had some on the way when I went to fond out about it.

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You're only supposed to blow the BLUDDY DOORS OFF!!

do u sell quick-shifts matty. damb this just reminded me that i need to get round and pick up and pay for the slave cyclinder. hows the carb looking any progress?

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PrOuDlY aSkInG qUeStIoNs FoR uR aMuEsMeNt

AND GET A SHIFT BIAS!!!!! I have one fitted to my Cooper S, and it is OMG SO GOOD!!!!! It makes it shift very very very simmilar to my Sisters 2003 Holden Astra..

http://www.minispares.com/Product.aspx?pid=36367

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That's not really a good selling point is it?

LOL, Matt.. It actually makes it centralised. so it makes 3rd and 4th shift so easy!

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Rod change gearbox in a Cooper S?!
I am confused!

Changed the remote 4 speed to a nice 5 speed

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Here's a video indicating the slop!
I think it's safe to say she's rooted.

I am just not sure if it is in the ball itself, or the aluminium housing that the ball sits in.

Probably both (and considerably!)