Date:         Fri, 22 May 1998 12:57:32 -0700
Reply-To:     Tom Young <young@SHERLOCK.SIMS.BERKELEY.EDU>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         Tom Young <young@SHERLOCK.SIMS.BERKELEY.EDU>
Subject:      Securing the guide pin (shifter linkage)
Comments: To: VANAGON@gerry.sdsc.edu
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII

Hey all:

Got exactly one response to my request for help in securing the guide pin
against the transmission; I suspect that reflects the fact that maybe 1
in 1,000 van owners ever mess with this thing.

So, for posterity, here's how I got it back into place.

The guide pin is a large "bolt" (for lack of a better term) that bolts
to the transmission and to which is secured a "guide ring" (essentially
caged ball bearings).  The relay lever fits over the guide ring/guide
pin combo.

The problem: when you try to snug up the nut holding the guide pin to the
transmission, the whole assembly spins, meaning you can't advance the nut.

The solution(s):

(Theoretical solution): There's a "nut" cast in place on the guide pin,
right next to the large round flange that's also cast on the guide pin.
The large round flange serves as the "head" of the bolt to keep it from
pulling through the hole in the transmission when you tighten down the
nut.  This flange also holds in place one end of the rubber boot that
covers the guide pin, serving to keep dirt and junk out of the
mechanism.  So, theoretially, you use the cast-in-place "nut" on the
guide pin, along with your 13mm wrench, to keep the guide pin from
turning when you tighten down the nut.

The problem with this theoretical solution is that the rubber boot (if
you have one) so thoroughly covers the guide pin that there's no way in
the world you're going to get a wrench on the "nut" without tearing the
boot apart.

(I suspect they use a deep socket at the factory to secure the guide pin
to the trans, and then assemble the relay lever over that.)

(Practical solution) I pushed the rubber boot back far enough that I
could grab the guide pin with my vice grips.  Since the relay lever rides
on the guide ring and can't see that this procedure could damage anything.

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Tom Young               young@sherlock.SIMS.Berkeley.EDU
Lafayette, CA  94549    '81 Vanagon
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