Date:         Wed, 13 May 1998 18:05:35 -0400
Reply-To:     thetrans <thetrans@INAME.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         thetrans <thetrans@INAME.COM>
Subject:      Shifter linkage advice sought (87 Westy Syncro)..
Comments: To: Vanagon@VANAGON.COM
In-Reply-To:  <3.0.3.32.19980510184235.006a7fec@mail.abccom.bc.ca>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Well I had the Westy Syncro out yesterday, and after a few days of running
around locally with no problems, I went from fourth gear to shift down to
third, and the shift lever seemed to get stiff, and wouldn't shift out of
fourth. After some quick jiggling, I was able to kick it back into first
gear (I had slowed to nearly a stop.. thank God it was a back road). Then I
was able to again make it home without any further sfifting incidents.

Because I can make it through all the gears, I am assuming that my problem
must be in the shift linkage systems somewhere. I got underneath, and
checked the shifter lever in the transmission. The boot is separated from
the rod, and a bit of oil is seeping there, but the linkage itself didn't
have too much play.. no more than 1/4 inch in any direction (I'm assuming
that at that point, the connection needs to move in all directions in order
to work through each of the transmission shift positions.. bad description
I know.. hope I'm right).

I have to remove the front tire to get at the front linkages, so I don't
know if that's where my culprit may be.

Questions:

1) For those who have had bushing problems, do my symptoms sound similar to
what you experienced.. basically not being able to smoothly transition in
and out of gear infrequently?

2) What area did your linkage problem surface? Up front, below the booty,
or in the back near the transmission

3) What did the fix entail?

4) What else, if anything should I be concerned about?

I gotta fix this problem before this beast is considered road worthy.
Thanks for any help!

Bill



"Once in a while you get shown the light in the strangest of places if you
look at it right"

Hunter/Garcia