Difficult gear shift when cold

G'Day - my 72 super has trouble with first & second when cold (needs double clutch) - shifts OK when warm (bit clunky). Not a hugh issue - just a bit of a pain. What does this sound like? Doesn't pop out of gear or anything. Is this synchros??

Got plenty of oil?

Open the fill hole on a level road or driveway, put ur finger in the hole and the oil level/height should be level with teh bottom of the fill hole.
IE: it should be filled all the way up to the fill hole on the side of the transmission.

doesn't crunch or anything?

Usually when ur synchro's are buggered they gears are prone to poppin out, so if it isn't, well chances are they are fine.

Are you positive your clutch is fully disengaging? It is adjustable at the lever at the transmission.

Hi

Change your oil and put some Nulon G70 in it as well.

Steve

So if the syncros are stuffed andits popping out of 4th gear when driving, what is the general solution? Rebuild?

What does it usually cost for a gearbox rebuild (swing axle) or is it cheaper to buy a rhino box?

Sorry if this is hijacking the thread.

Poping out of gear is not always the sycros. My first vw (was a t3 square) always jumped out of first. Turned out to be total destruction of the pinion bearing.

The vibration of the internals of the box was shaking the gear out of engagement. There was no external sign of anything wrong. Was a shock when I opened it.

Thanks - is there a concensus on the best oil for the 'box?

nbd1 wrote:G'Day - my 72 super has trouble with first & second when cold (needs double clutch) - shifts OK when warm (bit clunky). Not a hugh issue - just a bit of a pain. What does this sound like? Doesn't pop out of gear or anything. Is this synchros??

I would drop the oil out...
and refill with a 75/80 weight hypoid oil...
You may have 90/140 in it???

plus also add G70 nulon .. thats the easy part...lol

don't forget to undo the filler plug first....
so, You know You can put more oil in ..lol

filling a gearbox [up to the filler plug] is one of VWs many
great ... eerr difficult but doable jobs...

don't fill it in one go, as the oil will back up and look like its overflowing..

and Your car doesn't really need to be sitting on the ground
I always jack mine up... lol

Lee

Hi

The oil always flows better if its warm, don't heat it but don't use after its sat in the garage all night, put the container inside where its warm for a while.

The oil has to flow into the diff as well, so double check the level after its sat for a while.

I suggested G70 to a complete sceptic, he's a believer now after putting it in his wifes bug transmission.

Steve

Agree with the Nulon and fresh oil. The more you drive it the better it gets. My synchros are worn but never pops out of gear. Nulon and fresh oil made a huge improvement. Easiest way I have found to fill oil is to buy a small oil pump at Autobarn etc. Still not the most fun job

only use Castrol VMX80 gear oil

so the G70 is worth it then ?

Thanks all - much appreciated.

Definitely. Mate of mine with an X19 suggested I use it (I was a total sceptic too) but it made a significant improvement.