Removal
"I'm trying to separate my gearlever from the back of the
engine and its got a pin that I need to drift out. Well I've
whacked it, hammered it, sworn at it but it hasn't moved."
I sympathise with you!!
The other day I drifted Merv's roll pin out. What a nightmare!
When I did Borris' engine swap I used a large nail and a hammer and the pin
wasn't too much trouble.
I couldn't get the pin out on Merv so took engine off with gear remote still
attached.
With it lying on the garage floor I hammered and swore and it just wouldn't
budge.
You can get special drifts etc, but here are some tips....
The pin is held in by it expanding, therefore the drift must push the ends rather than shove into it and push so that it tries to expand it
You can use cross-head screw drivers, but they often cause the above problem and also get mashed up
I have found a large round ~4mm diameter nail to be the best item to use. You can trim the tip to be flat
I didn't have any nails to hand for Merv's pin so used a large screw and a big hammer. Watch your fingers! (hold screw with pliers)
You need to get VERY rough with it. I got through 6 screws before it came out
Put in reverse gear and drift the pin nearest the remote, so that the coupler is left on the box, unless of course you want to swap engines in which case you need the couple on the remote shaft. I think reverse gear is best again
DON'T be tempted to drill it out. It'll bust the drill.
Good luck.
Roll-pins, tip for retention on gear linkage
I've had a roll pin out of a gear linkage before and since that time I have put a piece of wire through the pin and wrapped it around the gear linkage to make sure the pin can not go anywhere.
Since then I have never had a roll pin fall out.