Date:         Thu, 9 Apr 2009 10:18:03 -0400
Reply-To:     Sudhir Desai <sudhir.desai@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Sudhir Desai <sudhir.desai@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Educate Me Please - Vanagon Shifter Operation
In-Reply-To:  <49DDFE80.9060100@charter.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8

john,
using the following picture as a guide:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=317536

on the gear shift lever inside the van, traveling downwards to the
pivot (two #12, and one #13).

for the fore and aft operations, the shift lever moves the entire
shift rod to the front, and to the back.

when you push forward on the gear shift lever, the pivot under the
floor translates that motion to a smaller(and with more force)
backwards motion on the gear selector lever in the transmission.

a same situation occurs when you pull backwards on the lever, the
pivot translates that motion to the forward motion on the gear
selector lever.

the side-to-side motions at the gear shift lever inside the cabin
translate to a rotational motion in the shaft to the transmission,
there is a kink in the shaft just before the shaft connects to the
gear selector lever which translates the rotational motion of the
shaft to an in-and-out motion on the gear selector lever.

****I might have reversed the 'in' and 'out' on the gear selector
lever at the transmission.****

*reverse gear has a lockout inside the cabin (the need for the tang
under the mechanism) which means you push down on the gear shift
lever, move the lever left, and push forward. this moves the gear
selector lever in and back on the transmission.

*first gear is push forward which translates into a backwards motion
in the neutral plane of the gear selector lever.

*second gear is pull which is the forwards gear in the neutral plane
of the lever.

*third gear is on the 'out' plane, and backwards on the gear selector
lever at the transmission

*fourth gear is also on the 'out' plane, and forwards on the gear
selector lever at the transmission


I hope I have explained the basic workings of the lever. If you would
like a better explanation from me, I can take pictures and explain in
more detail when I get home tonight.

On Thu, Apr 9, 2009 at 9:56 AM, John Rodgers <inua@charter.net> wrote:
> The Vanagon shifting mechanism on a manual tranny is a puzzle to me. I
> have not been able to come ot an understanding of it from looking at
> Bentley and the Haynes Manual is not much good either.
>
> Can anyone describe exactly how the mechanism works? The part that is of
> interest is in the front of the vehicle where the shifter lever housing
> is located. I don't understand how the movement and positioning of the
> end of the shift rod works. I can see a funky little tang on the end of
> the rod, and a funny little shelf  in the housing, shown in  pictures,
> but how that all fits together and really works is a mystery to me. What
> happens there as the shift lever is operated?
>
> Any descriptive material on this would be appreciated.
>
> Thank,
>
> Regards,
>
> John Rodgers
> 88 GL Driver
>