A friend of mine has a beetle and is having problems shifting into first and third. I jumped in and it feels like it disconnects. We checked the coupling to the gearbox and it's fine. Any ideas....

Has he done anything that can effect the alignment of the engine & tranny in the car recently?

it may be the plate under the gearshift lever. if the bolts have come loos and the plate has moved that may cause it not to go into gear properly. also have a look at the bush in the tunnel where the main shaft from the gearshift to the gearbox runs. if it is worn it may also cause the problem. it is located just behind where the gearshift lever connects with the shaft

99% sure it would be the plate under the shifter being loose.

I checked out the plate and it's still tight. Can I remove this plate and the gear stick without it falling apart into a million pieces.

Its unlikely to be the plate if you haven't disturbed it. Must be the plastic bush. Its a bugger to get to it. You have to undo the coupling at the back then withdrew the shaft to teh front of the car before you can get to it.
I had the same problem before. Replaced the bush and it was sweet afterwards

Could be the engine mounts and the shifter bush. I had a similar problem with a 64 beetle, the engine and box some how moved back. New mounts etc soon fixed it.

I have read where its possible to renew that bush without taking the shaft out... etc...

anyone done it with the shaft in the car [Beetle]

Lee