Vanagon EuroVan
Previous messageNext messagePrevious in topicNext in topicPrevious by same authorNext by same authorPrevious page (November 1998, week 4)Back to main VANAGON pageJoin or leave VANAGON (or change settings)ReplyPost a new messageSearchProportional fontNon-proportional font
Date:         Wed, 25 Nov 1998 10:22:29 -0400
Reply-To:     Tim Smith <smitht@UNB.CA>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         Tim Smith <smitht@UNB.CA>
Subject:      sticky shift/adjustments
Comments: To: Daniel Bey <DanielisOk@AOL.COM>, vanagon@vanagon.com
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Hi Dan,

Don't know if you do some of your own work, but...

The way the shifter works is that fore-aft action is usually ample, the stick will travel a long way and can easily compensate for slop, BUT selecting 1-2 or 3-4 gates with the stick allows a rotation of the linkage by only a few degrees, and slop there wipes out the movement that happens later at the trans. There is a plastic U-joint in the shaft, this cracks/wears, plastic bushes at base of stick and a ball and socket joint made of nylon and pot metal at the trans. All wear out/gunge up, and should be cleaned/checked before bothering to adjust anything. This means that you often can't get into the 1-2 gate at all. Bought my Syncro from the dealer this way, shifted from granny gear to 3rd for a few days until I went through the system completely.

Here goes....

Against the side of the trans is a ball+socket combo that works the shift lever which goes into trans. There is a rubber boot over it, but they die/crack and the ball and socket (BS) fills up with dirt since the socket is on the bottom (usual VW bad design) Unbolt the shifter mount from the trans and the BS can be separated, then cleaned/greased and a new boot put on. Do this first and check results. At same time slap some black-grey moly based grease onto the 2 plastic bushes/steel tube where the shifter linkage passes through the 'frame' underneath, and if really adventurous do the same under the base of the stick (drop spare tire and remove 4 nuts holding tin box over stick undersides)

If this hasn't helped much you may need to put in a new B+S parts, new bushes at the base of the stick and a new u-joint coupling mid-shaft, but.... before you do that it may be that the linkage is a bit out of adjustment. Some adj. is possible by loosening the 2 nuts underneath the rubber boot at the base of the stick, and try pushing the metal base all the way to the right then retightening first. Next step, PITA!, is to split open the spline joint (it will be rusted solid) and index the rear section of the shaft one or two splines counterclockwise (looking forward) This will improve the reach to get into 1-2 gate AT the expense of reaching 3-4 gate. Rob Peter to pay Paul. You can't compensate this way if wear is large, which is why I told you do do some TLC maintanance first, then get some plastic parts and finally mess with the spline joint. I noticed very little gain BTW when I replaced the 2 plastic bushes attached to the frame, wasn't worth the effort req'd at all!

HTH, Tim

and if you can easily get to Denis Hayes in LI? do it, and get him to do an overall inspection of the vehicle so you know what to expect down the line. Letting things go on a Syncro could get expensive. At least get Denis to change trans and front diff gear oil when there, and check the CV's.


Back to: Top of message | Previous page | Main VANAGON page

Please note - During the past 17 years of operation, several gigabytes of Vanagon mail messages have been archived. Searching the entire collection will take up to five minutes to complete. Please be patient!


Return to the archives @ gerry.vanagon.com


The vanagon mailing list archives are copyright (c) 1994-2011, and may not be reproduced without the express written permission of the list administrators. Posting messages to this mailing list grants a license to the mailing list administrators to reproduce the message in a compilation, either printed or electronic. All compilations will be not-for-profit, with any excess proceeds going to the Vanagon mailing list.

Any profits from list compilations go exclusively towards the management and operation of the Vanagon mailing list and vanagon mailing list web site.