quote:Originally posted by veryfast italain:
Have you taken the shift lever mechanism apart and inspected and lubricated it?
My linkage was beginning to squeak and get 'heavier to shift' at the shift lever under the shift gate. I adjusted the trunion bushing before disassembling the shift lever's mechanism and that fixed it insteaad. It shifts without noise and without friction or drag anymore. I saw a new shift lever for sale on e-Bay, and the photo showed a ball at the other end (hidden end) of the shift lever from the shift knob. I'm just guessing, to give you another idea. I suppose that 'delivery' end needs to be operating in a tight and precision manner, just the same as the control box 'receiving' end needs to be operating properly. It probably should be inspected as part of the diagnosis. Please let everybody know how you fix this. Thanks. Good luck, you'll find it.
This reply is to you fastitalian but I also want to thank everybody who made suggestions. It turns out the the biggest part of the problem was inside the shifter box. The set screws were loose and it allowed the shaft to rotate almost fifeteen degrees before it moved the little arm inside. The problem was I couldn't see the set screws from underneath the car, mainly because of my bifocals, but the tranny has to be in absolute nutral position to aling with the access holes. I had dissassembled the entire car so I could see the linkage. It wasn't binding although it does rub a few places. So I subdued my fear of the shifter box, knowing the ZF will fly apart and lose parts without provocation, and looked inside the shifter box. Heart ponding least any mistep on my part, totaly ruin my car by destroying the transmission by tightening or loosening the wrong nut or bolt. With the cover off I was able to at last see the set screws and tightened them. It was a miracle. It shifts now. It is still hard to adjust and I think part of it may be my frame not being quite right, maybe even from the factory, I can only speculate. It probably needs a slight tweek by shortening the turnbuckle just a skoosh. But by now I am afraid to touch it. I drove it for the first time in months today. It was wonderfull. I still have to clean her up and may enter her in a show this August if I get it ready in time. It was about this time last year that my Son and I broke the car. A one year sentance Panteraless is a cruel punishment.
