Gear Lever Bolt Constantly Coming Loose

[robc]

Afternoon all,
Over the last few months I've had a constant problem with my 1150's gear lever bolt unwinding itself causing the lever itself to wobble around and it makes some gear selection difficult.

Now, over the years I've removed the lever to clean the crap out of the bush to keep things in fine fettle. Never did I have to use thread lock and the bolt stayed put.

The last few months I've had to tighten the bolt every couple of days. It makes no difference if I use thread lock or not. The last few times I have used increasing amounts of thread lock to no avail. Last time I put in so much I was concerned I'd never get the bolt back out again. Alas, 4 days later it began unwinding itself.

Each time I remove that bolt I smear a little grease on the cup of the bush so there is as little friction between the lever/bush and the bold head as possible.

Why this has just become a problem I am at a loss to explain. The only variable is that I've changed my place of work from Canary Wharf to Waterloo so I spend more time in slow and stationary traffic than I did before. With this bolt's proximity to the hot exhaust can this be causing the problem - either through heat expansion of the bolt/lever or the melting of the thread lock?

Has anyone else had and, more importantly, fixed this problem?

Regards

Rob C

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Are both the circlips, on top & bottom bushings.......... still in place?

 

[robc]

If you mean the little pins at the top and bottom of the gear change rod, then yes both are there. Had a pingfukkit moment the other week and it took hours to find one of the little blighters again.

Anyway, all parts are in place. Nothing is broken and all parts fit together nicely without any movement just as it always has been.

Need to go through the tighetning routine again tonight. It's a 5 minute job but one that should rarely be done.

Regards

Rob C

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Never had to do one on a 1100 or 1150

Are you sure the bolt threads in the gear lever aren't fubarred and you need a new lever

 

[robc]

I'm sure. Everything is in tip top condition. The threads have never been crossed and on close inspection I cannot see the slightest hint of thread damage. Of course, I will check again tonight.

To test my theory of the thread lock getting melted by the exhaust I'm going to get my hands on some that can withstand higher temperatures.

Regards

RobC

 

[JayC]

The only explanation (provided the bolt is being tightened sufficiently) is worn thread/s, despite your closer inspection. If you have been tightening it more and more as a consequence of it loosening then it sounds like the thread has been stretched beyond it's parameters of elasticity.

The thread may be partially stripped in the lever at the point where the bolt enters. Only a worn thread, or ill fitting thread, will prevent that thread doing what it is designed to do.

 

[robc]

It's one of those bolts that only gets done finger tight. Any more and the gear lever becomes too stiff. So the threads are never under much stress.
I've just had the thing apart and once all the grime is cleaned off it looks as good as new.

The thread lock is blue 242. Can anyone recommend a stronger one?

Regards

Rob C

Sent from my XT925 using Tapatalk

 

[JayC]

I'm not overly familiar with "one of those bolts that only gets done finger tight"!

 

[MikeO]

Which bolt is it that keeps loosening?

 

[Smug]

Do you mean the M10x50 counter sunk head bolt? If the bushes are not seated properly in the gear lever then the lever will try to undo the bolt when you change up. There should be slight lateral play where the gear lever is attached to the mounting assembly.

 

[davegs]

Gears

The lever should certainly not tighten up, you have a prob there with the bushes this bolt is supposed to be done up tight!! with thread lock.

 

[Steptoe]

It's one of those bolts that only gets done finger tight. Any more and the gear lever becomes too stiff. So the threads are never under much stress.
I've just had the thing apart and once all the grime is cleaned off it looks as good as new.

The thread lock is blue 242. Can anyone recommend a stronger one?

Regards

Rob C

Sent from my XT925 using Tapatalk

The bush is seized, you're only greasing the inside of the bush where the bolt runs through, not the outside of the bush where it runs through the gearlever

You're not removing the countersunk bush from the gearlever and greasing it = The countersunk bush is seized in the gearlever so when you tighten the bolt it grips the outer bush, as it's meant to, but the lever is meant to be loose on the bush. Hence why it's coming undone.

Press the inner bush out of the gearlever, rub the inside of the gearlever with some wet and dry or even a fine needle file, and use wet and dry on the bush outer.
Then use plenty of grease ( i use mobil synthetic grease) and re-insert bush into gear lever, then you can tighten up the gearlever locating bolt as tight as you want and it should be able to flop around loosely.

 

[Flipfly]

A tight bush causes a stiffening of the lever (fnarr fnarr), loose bush for floppy lever.......this is pure viz gold

 

[Steptoe]

All we're missing is a flange....

 

[metropolis2k]

A tight bush causes a stiffening of the lever (fnarr fnarr), loose bush for floppy lever.......this is pure viz gold

And don't forget, as usual, the solution is grease.

 

[twizzle]

All we're missing is a flange....

I'm here....

 

[robc]

Bushes get removed for regular cleaning and greasing. If I tighten the bolt too much the lever won't move. When too loose the lever has lots of lateral play which is not good.

Robc

Sent from my XT925 using Tapatalk

 

[bcostell]

The through bolt is supposed to be torqued to something like 20nm. The bush is supposed to be tight and not move - the lever rotates on the bush. If the lever is stiff when the bolt is torqued then there are two potential causes. 1). As Steptoe say, the bush is seizing on the lever or 2). The bush has worn lengthwise - likely by being too loose and being free to rotate - this will mean there is reduced side to side clearance for the lever.

Solutions are either 1). Do as Steptoe advises or 2). Replace the bush.

Either way, torque it up to spec.

 

[robc]

This is the first time I've ever seen a torque spec. for this bolt.

Next time I'll remove the bush and make doubly sure everything is squeeky clean and torque up correctly to see if that helps.

Regards

Rob C

 

[Keith Chapman]

This is the first time I've ever seen a torque spec. for this bolt.

Next time I'll remove the bush and make doubly sure everything is squeeky clean and torque up correctly to see if that helps.

Regards

Rob C

If it is squeaky it will need lubricating.