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Mon Jul 11, 2005 6:42 pm

Hello,
My 81 westy with manual transmission, in 4th gear and i fell it like to kick out when i pressed on the shifter, i can feel the reaction in the transmission gear like bounding. Even on gas pedal and feel the transmission doesn't run smooth. Can it be adjust and fix?

Jeff

Mon Jul 11, 2005 7:23 pm

Jeff, is it actually popping out of gear, or are you just saying you feel some "internal trans problem" when you hold onto the shifter?

Mon Jul 11, 2005 9:33 pm

Hi, it is not popping out of gear. When i hold onto the shifter i feel internal trans problem. Which like to pop out.

Tue Jul 12, 2005 8:17 am

If there is trule an internal problem, it is almost guaranteed to be the mainshaft ball bearing self-destructing. But you may just be feeling the trans moving forward and rearward due to worn-out mounts.

Wed Jul 13, 2005 3:06 pm

If you have no noise, no trouble shifting and its not popping out of gear... You have no problem.

Vibration and displacement is often transmitted back up to the shifter as the engine turns and twists.

If the motion is annoying or is causing it to be difficult to hang onto the knob for shifting (like, especially when you accelerate or jump off the gas to shift), you may have bad motor mounts allowing the engine/tranny assembly to move around too much.

Mike!

Wed Jul 13, 2005 4:16 pm

Most likely the main bearing in the trans, not that hard to repair the bearing is about 50$

Wed Jul 13, 2005 5:11 pm

Hi bill,
u mention the main bearing, is it at bentley 35.20 showing that main shaht bearing ? So i can replace it without open the case housing.

Jeff

Thu Jul 14, 2005 9:54 am

Unless you can support the input shaft from the other end (engine separated from trans), I would think that getting a new circlip onto the mainshaft would be tricky.

Thu Jul 14, 2005 1:14 pm

Man, if you can shift it, it stays in gear, it ain't growlin or leakin you don't have an issue. Why buy trouble?

I've seen the 3rd-4th slider die more often than the main bearing, especially on those trannies.

Mike!

Thu Jul 14, 2005 2:09 pm

Mainshaft ball bearing failure is so common in these transmissions, that modification parts have belatedly become available to address the issue. The ball bearing oil retaining ring is installed on some late 091/1 & 094 transmissions, but none have the mainshaft ball bearing / 4th gear oiler plate (as developed by VW after-the-fact) unless retro-fitted by a savy & meticulous transmission rebuilder.

If unwilling to add on the above two parts, a transmission rebuilder should, at the very least, replace the mainshaft ball bearing in any late model Van transmission that they've opened up.

If you KNOW that the bearing is going, replacement of the mainshaft bearing will save the transmission from self-destructing, beginning with bearing and 4th gear.

Thu Jul 14, 2005 5:38 pm

page 35.7 figure 4. easy enough to get to(so to speak) Gears has it right. STOP DRIVING BEFORE IT GETS WORSE. :roll: Have a fun weekend, do the CVs while your there. Time for a clutch?

Thu Jul 14, 2005 5:44 pm

Sorry I forgot, 35.20 also gives a good shot of it. you need to pop the case(use the permatex form a gasket) if your carefull you may salvage the paper gasket. Good luck

Thu Jul 14, 2005 11:04 pm

I don't think i can handle of this type of surgery, i better let the experience machanic to do it. Thanks all.

Jeff

Fri Jul 15, 2005 8:39 am

Don't be shy of trans repair. I used to be. Not a big deal if you follow the procedures, ask questions and espeically use quality parts. While you have it apart do the bearings, do the syncros, replace the troublesome 3/4 slider and put in the other mods as suggested. It ain't that hard. Time consuming the first time or two, but not hard. My first 020 (Rabbit 5 speed) took me a more than a whole day. But, now, if I had to, I could do it in much less. You just need all the goodies near by. Broken down parts trannies help a lot for shims and what not, if not just generally some thing you can play with.

If you take it to a tranny shop, make sure it is clean. You may wish to drain the oil and save it for them to "read." Be sure they know about all the magic and do it all to it. BTW: Put magnetic drain plugs in too. They are a standard VW item on early vehicles and I always put them in the later ones. It don't hurt.

Best of luck...

Fri Jul 15, 2005 11:20 am

I think what we're encouraging is the removal of the mainshaft ball bearing WITHOUT tearing down the entire transmission. Since this bearing is quite often the only issue with an older transmission, replacing just this part could do you for another 50K. No guarantees, though ---

Fri Jul 15, 2005 4:54 pm

Who has the pin nut tool on hand. 100$ at least from snap on(best $ I ever spent) Just do the gear and be happy.