Hitchcocks Forum

Help!!

My SII interceptor jumps out of gear between 1st and 2nd and 2nd and 3rd unless a very firm foot is applied to the gear lever.

I've got fed up with this and have read Don Morley's articles on the Hitchcocks site. I have tried to adjust the plunger but it was locked solid. I finally have got it free at the expense of the adjuster nut thread so I need to replace it. I have ordered a new one already.

It seems that I will have to remove the gearbox inner cover to fit the replacement. Is this as straight forward as the workshop maintenance manual suggests or are there things I should be aware of before tackling the replacement? I'm not much of a whizz with spanners, am I being overly ambitious in attempting this?

Thanks for reading

Hi, the plunger is removable with a screwdriver without taking inner case off. Vince

It's not always the plunger that is at fault so if that doesn't help you'll also need to check the ratchet clearance on the selector assembly which is also in the outer case. It's all explained in the manual, thank goodness you have one unlike so many posters who come on here!

REgards, Mark

The plunger wouldn't come out of mine, Vince. I thought that it should initially but now I've removed the inner case I can see that it is wider than the hole in the inner case.

Getting the case off was a little tricky. There were 5 screws holding the inner case not 4. I managed to crack the top of the inner case tapping with a rubber mallet before I found the 5th screw behind the gear change mechanism. New case ordered today.

I'm not sure how the plunger adjusts, unless it is by screwing in 1/2 a turn at a time as it has to remain horizontal.

Waiting for the new parts before re-assembly. I'm sure more problems will arise....

If you read the manual and look at the exploded diagrams all should be clear. I'm a bit worried you started hitting it before checking for hidden screws!

REgards, Mark

I thought I was following the manual Mark. Also Don Morley confirms there are no gaskets just jointing compound. As I had no idea what gloop a previous owners might have used I was just giving a firm tap all round to try and free the case. Either I don't know my own strength or there was already a weakness in the outer case. All the screws were very tight, presumably due to thread-lock being used. I know better now!!

Hi all,

Do you really believe that Don Morley knows better than us ?
REgards Dick