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Sat Aug 23, 2008 1:18 pm

Hi All, I had the transmission rebuilt on my '82 westy several weeks ago, and since the rebuild the transmission has been popping out of first gear quite frequently. I brought the van to another shop, and they said the shift linkage bushings all needed to be replaced, than a linkage adjustment should take care of it.

So does this sound reasonable? The transmission never popped out of first before the rebuild, and the tech said he didn't re-adjust the transmission linkage after he built the tranny. Is there any way to determine if the problem is linkage-related or internal? Thanks!

Sat Aug 23, 2008 2:14 pm

I had a similar issue after a rebuild, turned out to be some micro adjustments in the linkage and replacing all replaceable parts.

Here's the thread:

http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/Syncro/message/38212

Sat Aug 23, 2008 2:20 pm

I have the same deal with my 84 air cooled. I just old in first.
what shops did you talk to?

Sat Aug 23, 2008 3:31 pm

fung wrote: I have the same deal with my 84 air cooled. I just old in first.
what shops did you talk to?

After a $2k tranny rebuild that's not an acceptable option for me.

I had it rebuilt by Able Auto in Regina SK (we were on a road trip) and had it checked up again at Certified Transmission in Stillwater MN. Note the owner at Certified Tranny was very rude and refused to believe the transmission was covered by a warranty.

I'll source and replace all the linkage bushings asap and see where that leaves me.

Sat Aug 23, 2008 3:37 pm

redtail wrote: fung wrote: I have the same deal with my 84 air cooled. I just old in first.
what shops did you talk to?

After a $2k tranny rebuild that's not an acceptable option for me.

I had it rebuilt by Able Auto in Regina SK (we were on a road trip) and had it checked up again at Certified Transmission in Stillwater MN. Note the owner at Certified Tranny was very rude and refused to believe the transmission was covered by a warranty.

I'll source and replace all the linkage bushings asap and see where that leaves me.
Doesn't sound good to me. Why woud the bushings make a difference once it is in gear? Where in the hell is Stumptown?
Anywhere close to me?
Al

Sat Aug 23, 2008 4:50 pm

I live in Stillwater, too bad to hear about the rudeness. Keep an eye on www.vwfarm.com

a cheap tranny may come up

Sat Aug 23, 2008 6:27 pm

Mine now jumps out of first also. If I am accelerating thru the gears it runs fine. If I am going slowly, like thru an alley or parking lot it will not stay in first. My mechanic told me it was not the syncro but a worn out slide-what ever that is. Got a used tranny to put in next month. Good luck with yours
Paul

Sun Aug 24, 2008 10:57 am

69doublecab wrote:
Doesn't sound good to me. Why woud the bushings make a difference once it is in gear? Where in the hell is Stumptown?
Anywhere close to me?
Al

That is what I was thinking, but the tech is saying sometimes it will not fully engage first gear. It sounds like a bunch of hooey to me, but It seems I have to replace all the linkage bushings before I can have it looked at again. In all fairness, the bushings really do need replaced, so I might as well take that variable out of the equation while I can.

The transmission now has a year-long 20,000 mile warranty good at any transmission shop in the ATRA network. I think I'm having a hard time getting answers because no shops want to take on warranty work.

Ahh, and Stumptown is a nickname for Portland Oregon. Luckily there is an ATRA shop a few blocks from where I live there, and I'll be able to have the van fixed at my leisure (within a year). Cheers.

Sun Aug 24, 2008 10:59 am

pgurnee wrote: Mine now jumps out of first also. If I am accelerating thru the gears it runs fine. If I am going slowly, like thru an alley or parking lot it will not stay in first. My mechanic told me it was not the syncro but a worn out slide-what ever that is. Got a used tranny to put in next month. Good luck with yours
Paul

This sounds exactly like what is happening with mine. Looks like I have a fight ahead of me to find a shop that will take on a warranty transmission pull and rebuild...

Sun Aug 24, 2008 11:06 am

It wouldn't be hard to isolate whether the prob is in the gearbox or stress on the linkage, before you go to the trouble of renewing the linkage bushings and stuff. Not that it probably doesn't need it, but doing this will definitively prove whether the prob is in the trans or not, and if it is you can take the proof to the rebuilder so he can't duck out of making it right for you.

Just park on level ground somewhere with room to drive (like a huge parking lot), unbolt the last linkage support bracket from the side of the trans, hang it out of the way from a frame rail, and hand-shift the tranny into 1st gear. Then get in, start the engine with the clutch in, and motor away in first. Drive around, slow, fast, wahtever it usually took to make it pop out. If it pops out, it's in the gearbox beyond any doubt; if it never pops, then go thru the linkage and get it straightened out so there isn't any strain on the input lever once it's in gear. Don't overlook the tranny nose mount as slop there could be a factor in the linkage equation.

Sun Aug 24, 2008 11:54 am

tencentlife wrote: It wouldn't be hard to isolate whether the prob is in the gearbox or stress on the linkage, before you go to the trouble of renewing the linkage bushings and stuff. Not that it probably doesn't need it, but doing this will definitively prove whether the prob is in the trans or not, and if it is you can take the proof to the rebuilder so he can't duck out of making it right for you.

Just park on level ground somewhere with room to drive (like a huge parking lot), unbolt the last linkage support bracket from the side of the trans, hang it out of the way from a frame rail, and hand-shift the tranny into 1st gear. Then get in, start the engine with the clutch in, and motor away in first. Drive around, slow, fast, wahtever it usually took to make it pop out. If it pops out, it's in the gearbox beyond any doubt; if it never pops, then go thru the linkage and get it straightened out so there isn't any strain on the input lever once it's in gear. Don't overlook the tranny nose mount as slop there could be a factor in the linkage equation.
Very good Chris! You make it so simple.
Al

Sun Aug 24, 2008 12:07 pm

Thanks, Al. I type so slowly that I have extra time to think.

Sun Aug 24, 2008 1:40 pm

That is genious Tencent! No wonder I hang around on the Samba. I'll post up the results when I get a chance to dig into the linkage a bit. Cheers!

Sun Aug 24, 2008 10:33 pm

I'll second the genius Chris. Thanks for that tip!
Paul