Roll pin on gearbox

2nd October 2010, 13:36

Hi ive got alot of play when moving gearstick so i started to look at my linkages and ive found why it has so much play. Its because the linkage that the pin is in moves alot before it catches. So im not sure if the pin is ment to stick out like in the picture ? how can i stop the play. And also how can i remove it or tighten it ?

Thanks

2nd October 2010, 18:10

Not a saxo expert but I am an engineer.

Roll pins should generally go right through and sit flush with either side of the spigot. If yours looks 1/2 out, so all the pressure will be on one side of the drilled hole. It also may not be fully engaged in the internal component.

This will damage the hole.

Maybe you should give it a tap to see if you can re-engage it.

2nd October 2010, 22:00

I have just had my saxo on the lift and found exactly the same. The pin does tap right through. It is a solid pin and not a roll pin. Unfortunately with the pin now all the way through the play is still there so I am wondering if the hole is elongated. I will be investigating further on Monday. I am hoping the pin is worn and that is why the play exists.

I will left you know know. If the pin is worn I will certainly be replacing it with a high grade roll pin and not solid.

4th October 2010, 15:59

okay thank you both, i guess i will get it up on the ramp one day at my mates work as its not the easiest thing to get to !

5th October 2010, 14:36

To update you...the problem is that the hole on both the actuator and the connecting arm has ovalised. Going the ream out the hole and fit a high tensile nut and bolt. Not the easiest of access but certainly do'able. Fortunately I am the co-owner of a garage so have all the odd ball bits of equipment to do it. Good luck!!!

5th October 2010, 21:53

i had loads of play in mine, narrowed down the problems. its either the roll pin which it wernt for me, but i replaced it anyway.

my problem was at the bottom of the gear stick there is a nut and bolt throught the part which connect the gear stick to the linkage. people say buy yhr new bush's but i just tightened it up and its sweet now works perfectly im well happy. just get underneath your car with a 10mm spanner and an 13mm spanner and tighten it up. i didnt even use a jack i just drove up on the curb with two wheels on the curb, two off and i managed

hope this helps

5th October 2010, 22:09

I wish I was that lucky.....glad you found it!

7th October 2010, 12:33

An update of lose feeling gearchange....should help others.

Put the car on the lift again today to look at roll pin problem. I had looked at oversizing the hole but that was way too much work for such a silly problem, coupled with the fact that with all the workshop equipment we have it will be very difficult in situ.

Here is the solution:

1. Get a new pin from Citroen; it is now a roll/spring tension pin. Tap it in and the play will be gone - FIXED. btw approx 30p + VAT.

2. Replace any linkage that is worn. This is a very easy inspection.

3. Slide back the underpan exhaust heat shield to gain access to the gear selector and link rod connnection. Tighten the 12mm AF bolf.

Unless the nylon ball etc is worn (highly unlikely), this should fix the sloppy feel. For £15 the gear selection is now absolutely perfect in this case.

Hope this helps.....

PS The trick to repairing anything first go is to observe what is going on carefully and spend a few minutes thinking about what is happening. You do this and you will be amazed at how you can repair things first go with minimal cost. I am not trying to patronise anybody but I hear so many stories (including ones about garages) on how everything gets replaced to find it was a simple 30 minute and £5 part job and generally stares you in the face.

Good luck....

15th October 2010, 19:57

Is there a guide in the Haynes manual on how to replace this gear pin? I've not had a look under the car and never worked on a Saxo before so don't know where to look. Mine moves about an inch from side to side and struggles to find gears occasionally. For example if I struggle to get into Reverse I can put it in 1st gear which makes it alot easier to get it into Reverse after. Is this another symptom of a warn pin?

Cheers in advance!

16th October 2010, 09:45

I had this with mine but it wasnt loose it just kept falling off so i drilled a hole right through it and put a bolt with a nut on the end of it, worked a treat for 8 months then i 16v'd the car and put a vtr gearbox on so......

16th October 2010, 10:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by vtrdunc

Is there a guide in the Haynes manual on how to replace this gear pin? I've not had a look under the car and never worked on a Saxo before so don't know where to look. Mine moves about an inch from side to side and struggles to find gears occasionally. For example if I struggle to get into Reverse I can put it in 1st gear which makes it alot easier to get it into Reverse after. Is this another symptom of a warn pin?

Cheers in advance!

I have the fortune of a lift which helps in terms of access. Didn't try to access from above. Used a couple of 1/2" extensions bars to tap it out from just behind the left wheel. Worth the hassle!

23rd December 2010, 19:28

I have the same issue, lots of side to side play in gear stick, does someone have the part no for the pin in the 1st pic?

6th March 2011, 08:44

lol i posted in this a while ago but since the car being 16v'd its come back after a while, i have tried everything, new ball, new bushes in the bottom of the stick but no joy.

7th September 2011, 17:33

Ive got this problem! Just need to get the car on some ramps and then knock the old one out, then tap the new one in, very fiddly

7th September 2011, 17:35

This threads nearly a year old lol

17th September 2013, 22:44

Hi, everyone and thanks for all these posts. This is my first time on here so be patient with me.
I had a lot of play in gear stick and after looking underneath car I found same pin worn as you lot have been talking about. I tapped it out from L/H wheel arch. I don't have a local Citroen dealer so had to obtain the closest size "roll pin"(hollow sort of c shaped) from an engineering type shop. Original pin measured 6.88mm the one I could get was supposed to be 7mm but measured 7.70 (they close up a bit as they get tapped in).
I checked by drilling holes in work and the best fit was a 7.5mm hole so after a bit of hassle ( mainly to drill the shaft, not much room for my battery drill,but the actual hole was easy to drill once I had got the drill in place) I then drilled out the arm which fits over shaft as well in a vice.
I have now tapped the new pin back from L/H side again (I used the 7.5mm drill bit to locate everything) and I had already started the pin off in the arm in workshop.
Everything is now back together and I cannot stop smiling because the play has gone from about 2 inches side to side, to practically nothing! and gear change now lovely.
Hope this helps someone out there this is just what I did ( if I could have got hold of correct Citroen roll pin it would have been a much quicker job because obviously no need to drill anything)