Roadside Repairs

[spyderbirds]

OK, headed out for a full day of over 400 miles touring West Virginia and multiple sites to stop and see as well. About thirty miles into the day as I round a corner and cross a bridge I note that the spyder has not downshifted and I am still in 4th gear. GRRRR wont downshift, was able to chug ahead and get pulled off the road past the bridge.
Now thankfully I had read on this forum about the shifter linkage coming apart and I actually do check this item when doing oil changes.
I took a quick look to see if there was any hope of a fix without undressing the RT. No Chance.
Removed the Tupperware and was able to reconnect the linkage, then after starting the spyder and was able to get it back into neutral.
Wondering if I had it on correctly I went ahead and replaced all the Tupperware and found that indeed I had access to all 5 gears and was on the road again.

Moral: It does pay to do some of your own wrench work and also is valuable to read this forum as well.

[JCSMOKE]

It's always nice when you can save your own bacon!

[ARtraveler]

Glad to hear you had success with the DIY repair.

[JJW SpyderRider]

Good catch

[SteveMac]

Way to go. Nothing better than being able to troubleshoot and solve a problem effectively like that!

[SpyderAnn01]

I try to always travel with my mechanic. He was able to disengage my stuck parking brake in a parking lot in Maggie Valley. And you are absolutely correct about how invaluable spyderlovers.com is.

[Bob Denman]

I envy you and your mechanical wizardry skills!

[cjackg]

OK, headed out for a full day of over 400 miles touring West Virginia and multiple sites to stop and see as well. About thirty miles into the day as I round a corner and cross a bridge I note that the spyder has not downshifted and I am still in 4th gear. GRRRR wont downshift, was able to chug ahead and get pulled off the road past the bridge.
Now thankfully I had read on this forum about the shifter linkage coming apart and I actually do check this item when doing oil changes.
I took a quick look to see if there was any hope of a fix without undressing the RT. No Chance.
Removed the Tupperware and was able to reconnect the linkage, then after starting the spyder and was able to get it back into neutral.
Wondering if I had it on correctly I went ahead and replaced all the Tupperware and found that indeed I had access to all 5 gears and was on the road again.

Moral: It does pay to do some of your own wrench work and also is valuable to read this forum as well.

I heard someone else having the same problem recently. Do you have the links to the earlier discussion about this problem, or even some pics showing whats involved?

[spyderbirds]

I heard someone else having the same problem recently. Do you have the links to the earlier discussion about this problem, or even some pics showing whats involved?

I didn't search out the old threads, where I was broke down we had NO cell signal. so I was working off memory. I recall reading several times over the past year or so about the issue. I was more focused on getting fixed and off the side of the road. Next oil change I'll snap some pictures of the area.

[Bob Denman]

Thanks! I'd appreciate the pictures... I've never quite been able to figure out exactly how to get a 13mm wrench on that linkage for emegency "Knock it into Neutral" chores!

[Ga Blue Knight]

Good thinking and a great job getting back on the road!