I went to drive my 76 kombi on the weekend and soon discovered that the only gears I could get into were 1st, 2nd and reverse - 3rd and 4th had gone AWOL without warning since I last drove it!

Some background info:

- I changed the gb oil recently. There were no significant chunks of metal, just filings on the magnetic drain plug.
- it started to crunch into 3rd gear about a year ago.
- I tried adjusting the plate at the base of the gear stick without success.

Help! I am planning a big trip in a few weeks and although I was planning to take it slowly this was not what I had in mind.

Not sure I can help much, but a few questions for your:
What type of oil did you put in??
Is clutch adjusted proporly?
What happens when you try to get 3,4? Does it grind, does it 'click in' but seems in neutral, or does it just not do anything?
Might help narrow down the problem.
Andy
Oh, also check the coupling at the GB

[Edited on 12-5-2003 by Andy]

Try replacing ther coupling near the plate you have adjusted it looks like this.

I am having mine replaced tommorow as I have all but lost 1st and 2nd

Thanks for the suggestions. I have discovered from the exploded diagrams on the Bus Boys site that I am missing the front shifter bushing! I will see if replacing it (and the rear one while I'm at it) makes any difference.

It is not that uncommon. Give Mick a ring an dhe will tell you how to fix it. I would bet it is your selector in the nose cone of the box. There is a quick fix for it but you will have to ask mick as I wasn't paying attention when he explained it to me.

11CAB can probably tell you as well.

have you checked that the coupling from the shift rod to the nose cone is tight?
mine cane loose once and i didn't get a choice of what gears i selected (either 2/4 or 3/GRUNCH!).... not pretty, L's, tired 36hp and split case gearbox, trying to pull slowly up a hill in peakhour traffic.

FIXED!!! 3rd and 4th gear came back when I replaced the small bush that was missing on the front end of the gear shift rod. By the looks of things the old one had been there up until fairly recently.

Yep - they go hard and brittle. Probabally sitting there and then disintegrated and fell away.

Nice cheap fix!