Date:         Tue, 26 May 1998 21:46:09 -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:      Re: Securing the guide pin (shifter linkage)
Comments: To: VANAGON@gerry.sdsc.edu
In-Reply-To:  <Pine.OSF.3.91.980522121359.1766B-100000@sherlock.SIMS.Berkeley.EDU>
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII

On Fri, 22 May 1998, Tom Young wrote:

> [snip]
> 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.
>

After a little pmail I realized I was going about this wrong and you
*can* use the cast-in nut to keep the guide pin from turning with the
large nut.

I was trying to "pin" the rear of the rubber boot between the flange on
the guide pin and the transmission.  That is, I had the boot already in
place, covering the flange, when I was trying to install the guide pin.
With this setup the boot is too long to allow you to push it toward the
rear of the van so you can get a wrench on the nut.

The secret is to leave the flange uncovered (the boot pushed toward the
front of the van) while you install the guide pin.  Then pull open the
hole in the front of the boot and stretch it over the flange.

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