Date:         Tue, 30 Sep 2014 22:04:44 -0800
Reply-To:     Mark Tuovinen <aksyncronaut@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Mark Tuovinen <aksyncronaut@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: 85 gl manual...shift lever BROKE!!!
Comments: To: David Bohannan <fjazzbass@gmail.com>
In-Reply-To:  <837C8330-8D77-424C-90F9-D76DF98099AD@gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8

Its a known problem and you may want to consider fixing yours rather than
replacing it with one that has not broken yet.  VW dimpled the lever with a
screw holding the collar at the top of the spring creating a weak point,
You can pull the shifter assembly from under the van and then have someone
weld it up with a sleeve making it far stronger than the original.  If you
need to move the van it can still be driven even with a broken lever. I
drove ours home 125 miles using vise grips to hold the broken nub up far
enough that I could insert a screwdriver into it to use as a shift lever,
it worked fairly well though upshifting was easier than downshifting.

Mark in AK

On Tue, Sep 30, 2014 at 3:10 PM, David Bohannan <fjazzbass@gmail.com> wrote:

> My shift lever broke off...sheared at almost the base...does anyone have
> one I could buy? TIA, I'm so sad!!!
>
> Dave
> 85, baby bus
>
> Sent from my iPhone