Fulvia Reverse Gear

[Missilemech123]

Fulvia Coupe S3. Does anyone else have trouble getting reverse gear ? I'm having to declutch, find second then shift back round to reverse, takes me ages ?

[lancialulu]

Clutch dragging??? or maybe getting used to the baulk mechanism which requires a positive move to the left before going up to reverse......

[rogerelias]

Try changing gearbox oil for 75/90 gear oil, or if lever feels stiff remove gaiter and lube linkage

[roddy]

Not sure how long you have been a Fulvia owner, but you do know that you have to knock the gear knob 'down' in the neutral position, and hold it down, before moving it to the left and then forward? There is a lug cast into the remote control casing that is there to prevent going straight forward from first gear into reverse gear.

Apologies if I am insulting your existing knowledge!

Regards - Roddy

[stanley sweet]

Ummmmmmmmmmmm...had mine for 23 years and never knew that. Will have to investigate this!

[fay66]

Ummmmmmmmmmmm...had mine for 23 years and never knew that. Will have to investigate this!

You probably did Stan but you've forgotten after all that time, and you now do it automatically

Brian
8227

[ColinMarr]

Alternatively, the little lug in the gearbox casting with its steel pin that blocks the movement straight into reverse may have broken off! In my experience, many Fulvia boxes have broken in this way. The benefit being quick and easy changes into reverse without the pin! Photo shows lug and pin on an undamaged box.

Colin

[stanley sweet]

Ummmmmmmmmmmm...had mine for 23 years and never knew that. Will have to investigate this!

You probably did Stan but you've forgotten after all that time, and you now do it automatically

Brian
8227
[/quote

You're absolutely right Brian. I had to drive it today and checked it out. I don't think I was ever told this but I just do it naturally in the movement into reverse. When I tried just pushing it in it was solid. It's true that I used to carry a lot of information about the car in my head but I think because it's all a click away on the internet I find I'm letting it go.

[David32]

Alternatively, the little lug in the gearbox casting with its steel pin that blocks the movement straight into reverse may have broken off! In my experience, many Fulvia boxes have broken in this way. The benefit being quick and easy changes into reverse without the pin! Photo shows lug and pin on an undamaged box.

Colin

I believe the photo shows the reverse gear light switch. The gear lever selector stop is inside the rubber boot at top and the back. I must agree that the stop is easily broken as I broke the mounting bracket when removing the subframe.

[ColinMarr]

I am pleased to be corrected! It is the only photo I have of the end of the box and I assumed the lug and pin was for the reverse stop. Also, I wasn’t aware of the Fulvia ever having a reverse light – I don’t recall there ever being one on the S1 and S2 cars that I owned.

Colin

[Missilemech123]

Roddy, thanks for the information. Although I've owned the car for a year I haven't had much chance to drive the car. After your suggestion I rushed up to the garage to try. Worked a treat and yes I do feel like an idiot....but one who can now reverse the car out of the garage without any fuss.

[davidwheeler]

I've got a reverse switch and a broken lug on my 2nd series Sport.   Neither works!

[roddy]

Pleased to be of help!  And of course David is quite right. The rubber 'boot' round the remote control mechanism of the gear knob has collected many a broken off aluminium lug.  Always worthwhile having it welded back on, although difficult to get access.  Remember also, the Fulvia was designed in the era of when you only needed a reversing light to see when it was dark.  So the circuit to the reverse light switch on the remote (as earlier posted photo by Colin) is only activated when the side light are switched on.  Fifty year old logic is difficult to defeat.......

Regards -

[simonandjuliet]

Mine doesn't have the rubber gaiter so the broken piece of aluminium is long gone, however I do now have a working reversing light.

The switch was seized, so this afternoon I took it off , freed it up and refitted it.

But, another cause of a non functioning reverse light is the bracket. Once the switch seizes, the bracket gets distorted or broken trying to force itself against the switch. Now the bracket has been straightened, rewelded and fitted then it works as it should - but only with the lights on ......

Should I change it to come on without lights on ??

[roddy]

Another little tip :-  The grease nipple shown in your photograph purely supplies grease to the threads of the pivot piece, which moves in a very small arc - as the gear lever moves across left to right.  Forcing in grease too often will simply cause the aluminium casing to expand, loosen off the threads in the housing, and give all the more play at the gear knob in the cross plain.

Regards -