Technical Shifter linkage pops out

[Hharbers]

My recently bought 1987 4x4 keeps popping shifter linkage popping loose.

I replaced the rubbers that clips on the steel ball and linkage bushings a few weeks ago to solve vage shifting.
It helped a lot with more precies putting in the correct gear instead of guessing.

When shifting down to second i had to put quite a lot of pressure on shifter to push it in gear. As result i pushed the rubber end of the ball. Put it back on but i happened again. I discovered oil level of gearbox was to low and had to add more than 1 litre. I hoped this should solve the need to push hard into gear. Sadly id didn't. Yesterday in 10 miles green laning driving i had to stop 7 times to put linkage back on.

I will replace the rubber again, maybe the rubber is to soft? Its no 7 on the drawing
Is it normal is putting in second gear heavy ?

I know clutch needs replacement but can this be the cause (shifting from second to third causes some grinding Noise) maye clutch is not fully engaged?

 

[Hharbers]

I think i found it.

After removing the verticale axle (no 1) i found it was not rotating free due to worn bushings. With some tinkering and grease it rotates for now almost free again. Mounted again and put new rubber bushing on. It seams to be ok and shifts better.
For future i have to fix it better but Sadly part is very hard to find and expensive. 200 + euro

Accoording to my local fiat specialist the same part of the 2 wd is the same exept the mounting point and costst 50 euro. I think i ca grind mounting plate of old one and welding it to new one.

 

[binhoker]

i had a similar complaint. i managed to increase time between pop outs by tying the shifter rod to the gearbox mount with a zip tie, it adds bit of sideways pressure. i have since replaced the plastic bushing which was a better fix

 

[Hharbers]

i had a similar complaint. i managed to increase time between pop outs by tying the shifter rod to the gearbox mount with a zip tie, it adds bit of sideways pressure. i have since replaced the plastic bushing which was a better fix

I did the same trick with ziptie for now as im waiting for delivery of new bushings (and some for spare)

 

[Dragon Man]

i have a dragging clutch on mine so putting it into gear when stationary is quite hard, its always my fear its going to pop off when i try to get 1st or 2nd just something i live with
my sister had a drive of my 4x4 and she managed to pop the front ball joint out while shifting into 3rd. thankfully i was with her and knew how to fix it easy. one of my work mates also managed to pop the gear linkage off too.. multiple times!
my other, now sold panda 4x4 also would pop off the same ball joint on the linkage. both cars had new ball joint rubber cups too. the original ones were made from a much harder rubber so they did not pop out as easy but the new ones are quite soft which is why they pop out.

as for a fix.. theres not really one besides chopping the ends of the linkage rods off and using a different type of linkage ball joint which i have seen done on here before.

other than that, once you get use to shifting lightly, its quite a good security device to be fair!

 

[Hharbers]

saw these red bushings . Think they are made out of urethane instead of normal rubber.
Maybey these are better

They look like the red urethane bushings used in the Wheeler dealer episode