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MG MGF Technical - Shouldn't Be too Difficult! 'I Said'

Got a call From the Missis on her mobile. Gear stick Feels all floppy. Didn,t want to wait for the AA, so nipped out to tow her in. I think the gear selector cable has snapped, I'll get a new one and fit it. If I'm lucky you can probably just buy the inner bit or at the worst the complete inner and outer wotsit. Now I know I,m not an expert but I've bebuilt MGAs and MGBs over the years, so how difficult can fitting an oversized bicycle brake cable be.
Wait a minute, my advancing years is causing senility and delusions, they seem to have fitted a fragile cable and built the car round it. But thats crazy! it would be like putting the oil filter inside the engine. But I'd rather have it come in through the door than pay Rover £500.00 to pass it through a thin metal plate into the Tunnel.
Renault wanted seven hundred quid to fit a Laguna heater matrix. Doors off, seats out, air conditioning removed, complete dash removal. I did it for £65.00, a bad neck and
some skinned knuckles. So going to have a go at this.
clive heenan

>they seem to have fitted a fragile cable and built the car round it.

No less works with the lower gear cable change at the MGF than the heater matrix at the Laguna. The tunnel and seats have to be removed and the radio console.

Ooops, I forgot 'broken fingers' additional to your bent neck.

I think 80 quid will be your cheapest costs for a new short cable.
No chance to get the broken cable repaired in any reliable way. The kernel isn't just a twisted wire, but thin wires twisted around an app 2mm strong wire. This all put into the flexible cover pipe. Plastik ball bearings inside as well. And everything nice rolled together like a soup can. ;)

The look, and the problem with it:
http://www.mgfcar.de/gear_select/index.htm
and a description from 'young man' Valter at Rob's site:
http://www.mgf.ultimatemg.com/gearbox_cable.html

Valter fiddeled in the cable without lowering the subframe. (Must be an ar*e, even with two workers).
Lowering the rear subframe at passenger cabin side is easier access to the thin metal plate. You need about 2 inches space only.

Good luck
Dieter
Dieter K.

Hi,

<But thats crazy! it would be like putting the oil filter inside the engine.>

Doesn't the K series (no, not the Rover K) have the oil filter inside the engine, Ted?

Regards, Kes (dreading a gear cable snap).
Kes

Yep - remove small cover plate on underside of engine to access the 'internal' oil filter:-)

For those wondering what the hell we are on about - it is the K Series BMW Bike!

Ted
Ted Newman

Oh yes I know this tale all to well Clive. Still smarting from the £485 bill £65 of which was for the cable. Had we known that the cable wasn't covered on the (non MG/Rover) warranty @ the time we would never had dreamed of getting the car (& us) dropped @ the MG dealer. Still, the one good thing is that the work was guaranteed for a year, which it would need to be as the gear hasn't felt the same since & the car has been back for it to be looked @ twice.

Good luck with the change mate.

Cheers,

Sally
ashnsalnhen

Bad luck...

If you decide to go for it alone, please take photos since it's the only thing missing. Hope my description on Rob's site will be helpful...

Cheers,

Valter.
Valter

This thread was discussed between 13/02/2004 and 16/02/2004

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