broken main shift lever

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  • bobzinak
    Low Range
    • Apr 2009
    • 91

    broken main shift lever

    My main shift lever snapped off at the to of the selector shaft ball. I would normally think this is an unusual occurebce. but I have driven this rover well over 250 thousand miles. This is the third time this has happened. It's not like I jamb and yank the lever..this time it broke off as I went into forth gear.. Causing me to shift from low to high range to get home..a pain to do properly...Due to time restraints I did not have time to wait for a new one to be shipped. Instead a 1/2 drill created a new hole in the selector ball and a liberal application of some JB weld epoxy and I was back on the road after it cured.. now it just may be me..but having three shift levers break off since i've had the rover seems excessive...has anyone else had a similar exprerience...not that I'm ragging on my 2A..if I were I wouldn't have kept this long...BOBZINAK......
  • SafeAirOne
    Overdrive
    • Apr 2008
    • 3435

    #2
    I've had mine break. Mine is a 6-cylinder, RHD shift lever and it snapped about an inch or so above the pivot ball due to fatigue from the vibration of the diesel engine. I had it welded back together, but it snapped again at the same location about a year later.

    Vibration must have been at just the right frequency, plus I THNIK the 6-cyl RHD shift lever is longer than 4-cyl shifters, so there's more leverage involved during the vibration.

    I replaced the lever with a new one about 2 years ago and it's been fine so far.
    --Mark

    1973 SIII 109 RHD 2.5NA Diesel

    0-54mph in just under 11.5 minutes
    (9.7 minutes now that she's a 3-door).

    Comment

    • Jeff Aronson
      Moderator
      • Oct 2006
      • 569

      #3
      I've gone through 3 of them on my two Series II-A's over the 18 years of steady driving I've done on my Rovers. I'm guessing that it's just such a long shaft absorbing vibrations for a LONG time.

      Jeff
      Jeff Aronson
      Vinalhaven, ME 04863
      '66 Series II-A SW 88"
      '66 Series II-A HT 88"
      '80 Triumph TR-7 Spider
      '80 Triumph Spitfire
      '66 Corvair Monza Coupe
      http://www.landroverwriter.com

      Comment

      • CliftonRover
        3rd Gear
        • Mar 2007
        • 351

        #4
        I have broken two, I plow 60 driveways every snow storm, I I do a lot of shifting, the shafts are hardened steel so welds do not hold as well, I have tried that too. I would just get a new one and try to shift easier. also check to make sure the selector shafts are not binding. they can get stuck or gunked up so every shift will be more difficult.

        Comment

        • Rineheitzgabot
          4th Gear
          • Jun 2008
          • 386

          #5
          Had this happen today. Strange.

          I was thinking of running a tap into the ball, and a dye of the end of the shaft. How deep is too deep in the ball? Will this work?

          -Gary
          "I can't believe I'm sitting here, completely surrounded by no beer!" -Onslow

          Comment

          • kevkon
            3rd Gear
            • Aug 2009
            • 364

            #6
            It's hardened steel.
            Try slipping a tight fitting neoprene hose, like a heater hose over the entire shaft. It dampens the vibration and shock. It will also act like insulation.
            94 D-90 tdi
            72 Series III

            Comment

            • Jim-ME
              Overdrive
              • Oct 2006
              • 1379

              #7
              I have heard of this happening which is why I purchased a second one to have on hand. Does anyone know if a S3 shift lever can be made to accept the older style mushroom shift knob?
              Jim

              Comment

              • Winooski
                Low Range
                • Nov 2009
                • 30

                #8
                Mine snapped at the ball as well, after the shop tech where I had the truck put her into reverse. They fabbed up a tubular sleeve that was welded to the ball, with the shaft of the shift lever inside the sleeve and then welded at the top end as well. Looks and shifts good now, but apparently not an uncommon problem. Glad it happened somewhere other than on the road, but I am going to purchase another for the inevitable next occurance.

                Comment

                • LR Max
                  3rd Gear
                  • Feb 2010
                  • 315

                  #9
                  I broke one. Just welded it back on.

                  I'd suggest you do the same. Burn it with a 220V welder and it won't snap again

                  Comment

                  • ignotus
                    2nd Gear
                    • Sep 2009
                    • 237

                    #10
                    Series III

                    I broke mine a few times in the 70's and 80's one just the day before my wedding in the homeymoon car! I finally had my work machine shop make one out of I think it was 5/8 round stock machined down to fit the ball. Didn't break that one.
                    1960 "bitsa" 88--Ignotus
                    1960 109, 200TDI
                    rebuild blog; http://poppageno.blogspot.com/

                    Comment

                    • Rineheitzgabot
                      4th Gear
                      • Jun 2008
                      • 386

                      #11
                      Thanks guys. Guess I'll be welding it.

                      Gary
                      "I can't believe I'm sitting here, completely surrounded by no beer!" -Onslow

                      Comment

                      • mrdoiron
                        4th Gear
                        • Dec 2009
                        • 446

                        #12
                        Originally posted by Rineheitzgabot
                        Thanks guys. Guess I'll be welding it.

                        Gary
                        OK, so this now has me on a "defense in depth" plan... and will be adding "spare" to my list....

                        mike
                        ---------------------------
                        1961 Ser IIa Hybrid Defender
                        1969 Ser IIa Bugeye
                        1980 Ser III Lightweight 24V RHD- sold
                        1988 LR90 turbo diesel RHD - currently frame off rebuild in progress
                        1998 Disco - ex wife :-(
                        2000 Disco - RIP , end over end 2.5 times
                        2010 RR Sport Supercharged


                        http://mikerovers.shutterfly.com/

                        Comment

                        • LR Max
                          3rd Gear
                          • Feb 2010
                          • 315

                          #13
                          Originally posted by mrdoiron
                          OK, so this now has me on a "defense in depth" plan... and will be adding "spare" to my list....

                          mike
                          Meh. Having a spare one around is nice but go ahead and weld that puppy up or it'll just do the same thing.

                          Once the retaining pin that prevents the shifter from rotating breaks...then you'll be wanting to install that replacement

                          Comment

                          • bobzinak
                            Low Range
                            • Apr 2009
                            • 91

                            #14
                            I posted the orginal message in apr. 2009. I have since discovered more information, One article in LRW the writer said that he would always have a new gearshift lever welded at the ball. he said he had broken many of them. I have drilled the broken off part out of the ball. but just a note that the ball and selector end is VERY hard steel and will dull a drill quickly. this is just my opinion but you would think that a company that makes expedition vehicles would have designed a shift lever that you could stand on and not break. I feel sorry for the guy who has his shift lever break in the midle of some desert or moab hills and is stuck. the last time mine broke I was in forth gear and had to shift from low range to high range to get home..bummer..weld it! weld it! weld it!...bobzinak

                            Comment

                            • kevkon
                              3rd Gear
                              • Aug 2009
                              • 364

                              #15
                              I think that's why they changed the design on the SIII. It needs dampening.
                              94 D-90 tdi
                              72 Series III

                              Comment

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