Ducato X250 3.0ltr 6 Speed Gearbox - Gear-lever not Self Centering

[7Hvn]

Hi All,

Has anyone experienced the gear lever not self centering? It’s a 6 speed manual attached to a 160bhp 3.0ltr.
If you pull it out of 5th or 6th for example you would expect it to return to a central position ie between 3rd and 4th but it doesn’t. You have to delicately find them.
Also it can sometimes be difficult getting into 1st gear from neutral. 2nd then 1st typically solves that.

Anyone any ideas or experienced this themselves?

I don’t know if it’s something in the cab gear lever linkage, the linkage cables to the gearbox or more worryingly something in the gearbox.

Thanks in Advance,

 

[Spanner]

It may be one of the 2 cables is sticking and needs attention, most likely at the lower end where the cables operate a linkage on-top of the gearbox.
While a helper moves the gear-lever left to right observe which cable is moving the linkage and apply some grease to the inner cable as it moves in and out of the outer part of the cable then repeat the process on the second cable again while a helper moves the gear-lever forward and backwards.
I hope this helps

Chris

 

[Lenny HB]

A friend had the same problem, he tried everything on the cables but nothing worked.
New cables was the answer.

 

[GAVLAD]

Mine self centres but it does move within 6th gear with the throttle but apparently that’s normal.
Have you bought that Dethleffs?

 

[dave newell]

I've seen this happen on quite a few ducatos, usually the very low mileage ones and it's almost always the gearbox end of the cable mechanism. The connections to the gearbox selector shafts get dry and rusty and cause this issue. You need to get underneath, behind the nsf wheel and spray some wd40 or similar onto the connections and selector shaft then work the gearstick side to side for quite a while, five to ten minutes. Repeat spraying with freeing oil until the gearchange is nice and free then lube the connections/selector shaft with spray grease. Best way to prevent a recurrence is use the motorhome frequently.

D.

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[hchris]

Use spray grease where cables attach to top of the gearbox behind the air filter housing it would help if someone moves the gear stick about when your spraying.
It could be the cable's but it's worth a try.
Chris

 

[7Hvn]

Mine self centres but it does move within 6th gear with the throttle but apparently that’s normal.
Have you bought that Dethleffs?

Yes mine does move a little in 6th with power applied then removed. Heard it was a trait of these so didn't worry me.
And yes picked the Dethleffs up this week

@All - Many thanks for your suggestions. Time to get my hands dirty

 

[GAVLAD]

Yes mine does move a little in 6th with power applied then removed. Heard it was a trait of these so didn't worry me.
And yes picked the Dethleffs up this week

@All - Many thanks for your suggestions. Time to get my hands dirty

It looks fantastic!

 

[chaser]

Our Renault does the same but does work a bit looser as we use it , there are two springs under the lever that I think might have weakened as well as it has done 260 k

 

[BwB]

(Similar fix to those mentioned above in video form) This fixed my similar problem on the previous van I had...

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