Gear Linkage Bushings

[raparici]

Hi all,

This must have happened to someone else. Today I found out that the bushing at the end of the rear control shaft that permits linkage to the idler lever is worn enough to jump on its own unlinking the gear control. Fortunately I could come back home in 2nd gear given the ability of the volumex to move from a traffic light in 2nd hehe... In the documentation I have about Betas seems this bushing was never sold alone. In theory it comes already assembled to the rear control shaft. Does anybody know where I can find this bushings? Gear linkage uses 2 or 3 of the same type. In case nobody has these bushings are control shafts available somewhere? Uprated shafts (quicker - less loosy)?

regards,

Ruben

[Zagato78]

John Montgomery of the FLU.org sells a complete new bushing kit. Very good stuff. Check them out at www.flu.org.

[Neil]

Hi Ruben, I use Betacar for my volumex spares and servicing. The owner, Chris, was offering the gear change parts as a 'special offer' a while ago.
They do mail order. www.betacar.co.uk Some years ago on the way to Gatwick airport I was in the outside lane of the M4 in heavy traffic. We all came to a halt, so it was handbrake on. A few minutes later it was time to move again and that was when it happened to me! A broken linkage meant that I couldn't select any gear. By now the traffic was moving in the other 2 lanes and I had horns going behind me. It must have been my excellent swearing which got me third gear! That got me to where I needed to get to, even though the clutch got a hammering. Third gear is all you need in a VX!

[Hamish]

Ruben,
To add to the comments above, the FLU kit and the Betacar kit are (to the best of my knowledge) the same kit.
They come highly recommended, I fitted one to my old VX and the gearchange was a revelation.
If you do get the kit, my tip is to make sure you've got some silicone grease handy. The bushes can be a pig to fit, and although they are supposed to be self-lubricating the grease will make an appreciable difference :mrgreen:

[Pope1]

I can second what Hamish has said. Not sure whether Chris at Betacar has any more in stock though.

[Shane Taylor]

I have installed nylon bushes purchased fron citroen that will fit the control arm lever, the one that is 13mm.