Shifter/transmission troubles - help !

Sioux Seriously Crusin Dubber

178 posts · joined Jan 2007 · 5 Aug 2007, 9:57 pm

#605378

when i bought my '69 the gearbox was smooth as.

now 7 months later its very loose and the gears seem to be in the very far corners of the shifters area of movement and hard to get into. reverse takes quite a few goes getting into.

i installed a quickshift kit (one of those shoddy plastic jobs, my dad insisted on it. as he was driving it at the time.)

i took it for a drive a few weeks ago and couldnt find 1st or second. left it in the driveway until i found time to have a look at it.

today i pulled the shifter assembly apart, removed the quickshift kit and put everything back together. took her for a drive, the throws were obviously much longer, and alotttt looser, with no feel at all. could find first but not second.

took it all apart again cleaned everything off, put fresh grease on it and put it all back together. then had a look at the shift coupling under the back seat, cleaned it up, put fresh grease on it.

now i can find all 4 forward gears...just, they feel like they're only just in "reach". and reverse still requires a few goes.

also, finding the gears gets worse as you drive, as things heat up i guess.

any help out there ? :blush

Anthiron The Baja Rejuvenation Begins

4,936 posts · joined Oct 2003 · 5 Aug 2007, 10:07 pm

#605379

is there any slop in the coupling under the back seat? it should be pretty much solid, it shouldnt turn or wobble. what about the bush on the shift rod in the tunnel? ever replaced it?

have u tried re aligning the shift plate under the gear stick? is it the right way up?

[ Edited on 8-8-2007 by Anthiron ]

62/60 model bug eye baja bug, (Full Build in Progress)
1974 Chevrolet Luv
1970 MK2 Ford Cortina GT
1979 Yamaha RX125 Two Stroke tracker project.
2004 Harley Davidson Sportster XL Custom

1303Steve Scirocco Rare

8,650 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 5 Aug 2007, 10:07 pm

#605380

Hi

It could be the shift bush, its under the gear stick, just to rear of the hole for the shifter. Its made out of plastic and they do wear out and they will give all the symptoms that you described.

Steve

Bizarre Moderator The artist formerly known as blue74l

12,789 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 5 Aug 2007, 10:07 pm

#605381

Sounds like it might be the bushing that supports the rod near the shifter.

Does the shifter rattle when you drive it??

Pull the shifter again and with the help of a mirror you should be able to see if the busing is there.

Also - replace the rear coupler.
You pulled it out - should have put a poly one in.

Use the original housing and lock nut.
Change the rubber for poly.

Everything you said supports the problems associated with the bushing and coupler

Have a read of a few of these topics
http://www.vw-resource.com/vw-resource.com_non_ssl/search.php?zoom_query=*shift+bush*&zoom_per_page=10&zoom_and=1&zoom_sort=0

Futue te ipsum!!!

Anthiron The Baja Rejuvenation Begins

4,936 posts · joined Oct 2003 · 5 Aug 2007, 10:07 pm

#605382

beat ya

62/60 model bug eye baja bug, (Full Build in Progress)
1974 Chevrolet Luv
1970 MK2 Ford Cortina GT
1979 Yamaha RX125 Two Stroke tracker project.
2004 Harley Davidson Sportster XL Custom

Bizarre Moderator The artist formerly known as blue74l

12,789 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 5 Aug 2007, 10:09 pm

#605385

😁

douple snap

Futue te ipsum!!!

Sioux Seriously Crusin Dubber

178 posts · joined Jan 2007 · 6 Aug 2007, 8:31 pm

#605531

been thinking on this all day at work today. and when you move the shifter front to back, say 1st to 2nd, or 3rd to 4th. should the shift rod part of the shift coupler move backwards and forwards in the coupler mechanism. or should it be totally tight ?

xornge666x Wolfsburg Wizard

460 posts · joined Sep 2006 · 7 Aug 2007, 6:51 am

#605589

You should have this coupling yeh??

The rod piece of the coupling that goes through the shift rod should be a snug fit, and once the outer pieces (the two black neo/plastic pieces) are fitted, and the screw is fitted and tightened, there should be very little to no movement in the coupling its self.

It definately sounds like a coupling issue.
Might be a good time to do the front bush also, it makes a BIG difference when all new, greased and tight.

akean1 Remember To Love

1,088 posts · joined Dec 2004 · 7 Aug 2007, 9:06 am

#605607

would losing neutral be a symptom of this aswell?

Bizarre Moderator The artist formerly known as blue74l

12,789 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 7 Aug 2007, 1:07 pm

#605635

Possible

Worth the effort checking. Good chance the original is in there so it can only help

Futue te ipsum!!!

Sioux Seriously Crusin Dubber

178 posts · joined Jan 2007 · 7 Aug 2007, 5:32 pm

#605667

thanks for the help guys 🙂 it dawned on me monday morning that the shift rod was actually moving alot inside the coupling. and that it might not be supposed to do that. going down to the shed to have a fiddle. ill let ya know the results 😎

EDIT:

well, went down and basically shoved my finger into where the coupler bushings should be, and all i could feel was a tiny little ring of squishy metal. As i had to drive somewhere, a quick fix was a neoprene camping mat/bed/roll. cut a 10cm square corner off it and into little squares and shoved it into where the bushing should be.

it made me grin from ear to ear the entire drive just the difference it made. ill probably need a cold shower after i put proper poly bushings in :o:P

[ Edited on 7-8-2007 by Sioux ]

akean1 Remember To Love

1,088 posts · joined Dec 2004 · 9 Aug 2007, 9:33 am

#605985

"for anyone else checking this" also check that the metal part is solid. i checked mine and it looked good and solid, untill you looked at it while someone moved the gear lever left to right. a small weld had given way and was letting it twist under pressure...