Date:         Mon, 14 Jun 1999 13:14:20 -0400
Reply-To:     John <u1031271@WARWICK.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         John <u1031271@WARWICK.NET>
Subject:      Re: poor shifting; Help
Comments: To: "Pollard, Matthew" <Matthew.Pollard@OREADCA.COM>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Pollard, Matthew wrote:
>
> My bus is getting harder and harder to shift.  This morning I was not able
> to find first, but had to settle for second :-(  When I got into the first
> position, it was third!  ugh.  I know that my bus is not drivable as it is.
> I think the problem is with the linkage, specifically the rear end of the
> linkage where the final ball and socket assemble is.  Has anybody replaced
> the pin that holds the socket to the end of the rod, and will this help fix
> the problem?  Will the pin-hole be out-of-around? Can I drill the hole
> bigger and put a 1/4" bolt through it?  Or will just replacing the pin do
> the trick?
>
> Recent work that may be relevant: replaced all of the parts where the shift
> lever goes through the floor.
>
> Thanks for the help.
> Matthew
> 84 weekender

Matthew,

My name is John and I have 2 1986 Syncros, both of which had "hard"
shifting when I purchased them. Before drilling and modifying the
original hardware, I suggest you do the following:

Access the following critical points; shift gate directly below the
shift lever, the two shift shaft bushings suporting the shift shaft to
the rear/transmission and the shift shaft socket where it attaches to
the transmission lever.

Wash all contact areas throughly with engine degreasing solvent !!!!!
Often these areas are just recoated (again & again) with lubricant
leaving years of road abrasives and contaminants under the new
lubricants ! Then lube the contact areas with a good weather resistant
grease. One of my Syncros was "impossible" to shift until I performed
the above maintenance and has shifted without effort ever since !

In a fun kind of response I believe you are trying to use nuclear
weapons on this shifting problem when "PM" diplomacy will resolve the
issue ! If this helps, please let me know.

Good luck       JP