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75 L Bug - gear selection problem

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matara Custom Title Time!

1,342 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#758648
Hi,

A neighbour of mine has a 75 L bug, nice original car, he bought as a 1 previous owner. A problem has developed with the gear select and he asked me to look.

The car suddenly lost its ability to get in all gears. You can only put it into reverse and what seems like fourth. However in reverse the engine stalls if you let the clutch out. I've checked and replaced the selector cage under the rear seat, and the reverse lockout plate, but the problem looks like its with the selector itself as I can't even get neutral no matter how much I adjust the plate. I can only get 2 gears.

Any ideas, when its in 4th the car will actually move when I let the clutch out and there is no grinding. I'm thinking it might be a broken or bent selector fork in the gearbox.

Thanks

Steve

Bizarre Moderator The artist formerly known as blue74l

12,789 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#758658
Think you might be right

Can you disconnect the coupler and use some pliers to select the 1st gear by grabing the end and pulling and shoving??
Futue te ipsum!!!

dangerous 23 Windows of Awesome

5,901 posts · joined Jan 2005 ·

#758665
Sounds like the 3rd/4th shift rail is IN gear and the hockey stick has come OUT of its position.
A quick fix is to pull back the nose cone and lever the 3/4 rail back into neutral.

The cause of this is primarily wear.
The end of the hocky stick where it engages with the rails can wear,
but it's most likely a very worn hole where the 3/4 rail slides within the intermediate housing.

This hole can be re-bushed during a total rebuild.
The hockey stick can be replaced or welded with a tough material and reshaped to account for the wear.





westi wrote:That's mad Alan.

matara Custom Title Time!

1,342 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#767403
Mikey my neighbour has pulled the engine and gearbox and pulled off the nosecone to have a look. The end of the hockey stick doesn't look overly worn (the car has a a genuine 80,000 miles on it). We tried moving the selectors in and out and the two outer ones move in both directions, in and out. The middle selector seems to be stuck though. We gave it a little tap with a rubber mallet, and it feels like its hard up against something. I can't see the bushes like dangerous suggested installed in this box.

Here is a pic of the front of the gearbox with the nosecone off.

Anyone got any idea of what a gearbox rebuild costs?

Thanks again

Steve

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matara Custom Title Time!

1,342 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#767405
This is the stuck selector rod. Its sitting slightly out, i.e not flush) from the box as I can see some of the machined area of the rod.

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Bizarre Moderator The artist formerly known as blue74l

12,789 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#767408
If it is any help i am pretty sure Justin (hangs round V Force with the type 3) has a fresh box just sitting
Futue te ipsum!!!

matara Custom Title Time!

1,342 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#767422
Thanks Barry! I still have the L bug SSP box I bought from you, but I really want to keep that for myself!

Just spoke with Steve (Sick68VW) and he said if the middle selector rod ( 3/4 gears ) isn't moving it means there's something up inside the box!

Looks like we'll need a replacement box then?

Cheers

Steve

dangerous 23 Windows of Awesome

5,901 posts · joined Jan 2005 ·

#767503
The middle selector rod IS actually 1st/2nd.
It will not move until the upper rod is back in the neutral position(currently in 3rd gear).

In that first picture it appears like the top rail has a lot of wear in the housing.
Once it is in neutral, push it across from the left and you will see it move.
That is what will need re-bushing.
If the rails are in neutral, and it still wont shift, then yes, it will be something inside.
westi wrote:That's mad Alan.