Aygo(C1) Gear-Selector Issue After Fitting New Clutch

[Jackcooley]

Right first of all its a C1, im assuming that makes no difference what so ever but here it goes.

08 plate.

cable clutch(unsure if some where hydro)

Non Aircon so made the box job a little easier

So i did the normal things. took the hubs off and the shafts out, which were a pain, stupid clips inside the box what a !Removed! idea.

Anyway so dropped the box. lined up the new clutch and fitted that. thats fine

Popped on a new release bearing for good measure

Lifted the box up onto the car, reversed all the above and all seemed hunkey dorey.

Till i came to putting the gear linkages on.

the uppermost one seemed stretched too far when fitting it but i put it on anyway. hopped into the car to look and the lever is in either 2nd, 4th or reverse(facing towards the rear seats) but its way further back, its as far back as the section of bodywork allows it. so obviously not right.

i took the linkages back off to manually move the selector on top the the box but it wouldnt budge.

it will move further away(Clockwise) but not anti clockwise.

ive tried moving the other linkage that creates the up and down motion which seems to select the other set of gears then try to turn the original linkage anti clock wise but it wont budge.

a workmate used to work at a toyota dealers and has done 10-15 of the clutch changes in the past 8 years there and still he couldnt figure or explain the issue.

ive tried rocking the car as its in gear to try to help it click into place.

ive tried depressing the clutch and trying to move it.

nothing works.

the only option i could think of was to unbolt the 4 12mm bolts and lift the selector out and re-seat it in the correct place between the gearing but it only lifts up around 10mm not even enough to see inside the box to make out any issues.

im baffled!

any tips/ideas are appriciated