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Fri Feb 20, 2004 3:14 pm

I have a 69 bus, with a 68 transmission (worst tranny VW ever built). ive been having this problem for a while and i know there is a problem with my transmission. first gear doesnt enguage, it just sits and grinds. second gear works, so lately when i have to drive it i just dont use first gear. when i downshift into second i have to be doing less than 10 mph. sometimes if a gear is over reved, it will get stuck and i have to pull over, stop and actually turn the bus off then everything almost resets... it's fine for a while. has anyone ever had a similar problem? i think orangeeyesore did, and he replaced the cable- which seemed to fix it, this is the next step for me. i tried adjusting the cable and it hasnt helped. could the cable be stretching?

Fri Feb 20, 2004 4:07 pm

What we need to do here is distinguish between a clutch that is not dis-engaging fully and a transmission that is misbehaving. You cannot ask a transmission not to protest if the engine is overpowering the synchros.
Here is a test of clutch disengagement:
( it requires finesse )( have vehicle at operating temp )
Secure handbrake, start engine, depress clutch fully, push down like you always do and very carefully and *slowly* bring the shifter down towards reverse. *Be alert* to two gears contacting each other. If it goes into reverse without noise, your clutch is disengaging as it should. If you just get a taste of the clashing sound pop it back up to neutral, it is not disengaging properly. Rarely is it a clutch cable adjustment issue, unless you have a foot of play at the pedal. Usually it is oil-contaminated, or rusty spline, or bodged cross-shaft or some other horror. If you find that the clutch is not disengaging properly, you must get it repaired before you kill the transmission. You can drive the car in this condition if you have an engine that starts easily. At every stop, shut off engine. Engage first with clutch pedal depressed of course. When it is time to go, start engine and take off. Do not ever downshift into first. If your clutch is working correctly, and first is still acting up, you indeed have transmission problems, but drive as suggested above and you can stall for time.
Colin
Colin

Fri Feb 20, 2004 4:51 pm

Here is something that Ron at the Bus Depot wrote a while back. It might help if you don't have it.

http://www.type2.com/rvanness/transmis.htm

I am not so sure that the 68-71 tranny is any better or any worse than any other that used reduction gears after the splittys other than it was the first year of the CV joints (I always thought). It could have been abused or damaged in its youth and prematurely aged.

Good luck!

Fri Feb 20, 2004 4:55 pm

it goes into reverse just fine. this is whats boggling me. every other gear works ok, except first. second it only weird when i downshift, with having to be less than 10 mph. before first gear disappeared, i could downshift into 2nd at 20ish mph.

Fri Feb 20, 2004 5:09 pm

I also never downshift into first on the move, just when I am stopped.

I would also consider an adjustment to the shifter mechanism keeping in mind that 1/3 are related as are 2/4. I would also have a look at the Bowden tube the clutch cable runs through as I replaced the clutch cable. You might get lucky.

Fri Feb 20, 2004 7:37 pm

Quote: has anyone ever had a similar problem? i think orangeeyesore did.

my problem was different. it was the actual gear shift lever that i was having a hart time moving. one i got it to go it went into gear ok. i also had like 6 inches of play at the pedal. ive still got little issue i need to work out. something just isnt right still. what it actually feels like is that the bottom of the gear shift lever needs to be greased, but thats not something you grease is it? anyone got any ideas.
(dont mean to hyjack the thread, just trying to get mine worked out too)

Fri Feb 20, 2004 9:14 pm

did you replace the shifter plate? i replaced mine, thinking that it could be the problem. the old one was on backwards and broken :? i think it was only like 3 bucks too. you can unscrew the actual shifter (there's a whole explaination in the bently) and pop the stick out... the plate is right up against the floorpan. also, it could just need adjusting- also explained in the bently.

Fri Feb 20, 2004 9:59 pm

Matt,

I was reading through your old posts. It sounds like you have been through the shifting side of the the tranny pretty well, but the problems remain. One of your posts refers to a loud "pop" and there are frequent references to a lot of grinding. When you pull the drain plug out this, are there metal frags in the oil and on the plug? I will bet the synchros are now offically "whole weed flour".

I don't like any of that. I am going to go out on a limb here and say the tranny is shot.

I wouldn't even do a lot of exploratory surgury on this, I would just plan on replacing the worn out tranny you have with a good one from a junkyard. Throw in a new clutch, clutch cable, hockey stick end of the shifter, couplers, shift rods if you need them, and get a good nose cone to make sure you don't have to do this again. Choose wisely and don't get one that is all leaky. Clean it up good while you are under there.

At least you live in CA where there are plenty of them around and it is still summer. Buy one from a VW guy who knows what a good one should feel like. Oh yeah, and change the fluid after you get it in there.

You can fix this.

Sat Feb 21, 2004 10:45 am

when i changed the oil about 1000 miles ago, there werent any fragments in it or on the plug. but that was before i was having this problem. i might as well change it again, wouldnt hurt and also to see if there is any change.
but right now we are broke. we just had a kid, so money's tight. im thinking my tranny is shot too, so im going out searching for them this weekend when i have time. Thank you all, seriously... this place is a plethora of information.