Shift Rod Bushing replacement - cheater method

kevin3406 · Posted: Fri Jul 19, 2013 11:56 am Post subject:

sure. real simple. remove shifter and plate.. drill a 1/4 inch hole thru the tunnel just under the shift rod. install a threadall covered with a nylon tube.(the bushing) then cap the ends with locknuts and secure. trim excess threadall and cover with carpet. now you can forever change the bushing quick fast and easy. you're welcome. p.s. don't forget to put the shifter back in lol
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Altema · Posted: Fri Jul 19, 2013 10:27 pm Post subject:

mapitfirst1 · Posted: Mon Aug 19, 2013 11:40 am Post subject:

I finally got around to re-packing the ball and shifter with grease. II was having a hard time finding 1st gear after. I readjusted the plate that holds the shifter and spring in place a couple of times and I seem to have eliminated the rattle. Not sure if it was the grease or the plate adjustment but either way...I still have yet to take it for a long test . Thanks for the advice

Moogs · Samba Member Joined: May 19, 2013 Posts: 156

mapitfirst1 · Posted: Fri Sep 13, 2013 9:54 am Post subject:

It's back and driving me crazy. It may have never been gone. I took it for a good highway drive last weekend and the shifter rattles like before. I'm wondering if it's maybe the connection from the shaft to the transmission. It rattles when under load at higher RPM's (around 60 mph).

I'll have to jack it up again and take a look. It all seemed tight when I put it back together. I remember seeing a photo somewhere with what looked like a spring over top of the shaft putting some downward pressure in the shaft. More research needed.

Thanks for the advice on the shifter plate. Every once in a while second gear seems to be illusive. I'll give your method a try.

Moogs · Samba Member Joined: May 19, 2013 Posts: 156

mapitfirst1 · Posted: Mon Sep 16, 2013 11:56 am Post subject:

OK, that looks reasonable. I'll give that a try. Between the rod and the bushing by the coupler. Any chance you have a photo of this?

Moogs · Samba Member Joined: May 19, 2013 Posts: 156

mapitfirst1 · Posted: Mon Sep 16, 2013 8:32 pm Post subject:

You are awesome! thanks!

mapitfirst1 · Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2014 10:35 am Post subject:

I put in the grommets last fall and then winter came so I parked the car. Sadly, the evil noise is back. I will re-examine my grommet work to make sure they are in tact. Maybe I can stuff in some slightly thicker grommets but I don't know if that will solve the problem. The rattle is really over the top annoying. The engine is loud enough, so I have to figure this out.
I will do some more 'googling'. If anyone has any other ideas, I'm all ears.

KGCoupe · Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2014 6:57 pm Post subject:

mapitfirst1 · Posted: Fri Mar 14, 2014 11:53 am Post subject:

I'm glad someone picked up on my little play on words. Smile

mapitfirst1 · Posted: Fri Mar 14, 2014 12:49 pm Post subject:

I'm going to replace the coupler with a new one this weekend. the old one looks fine but maybe there is some play in there that is not obvious to me. If that doesn't work, I'll need to get creative.

Altema · Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2014 1:00 pm Post subject:

I'm wondering if perhaps there's a problem with the nosecone bushing where the shaft exits the trans, or a problem with a shifter fork or something. Did you ever get the shift plate adjusted? If out of adjustment, then the shift fork will have pressure on it while driving which will vibrate the linkage. I'm sure you have gone though most everything on this list, but just to double check, the common rattle points are:

1. Loose shift knob.
2. Loose shift plate.
3. Worn or dry shift lever pivot.
4. Worn or dry shift lever ball and rod cup.
5. Worn front bushing.
6. Missing bushing clip.
7. Worn or damaged front bushing support in tunnel.
8. Worn rear bushing.
9. Damaged or split rear bushing cage.
10. Loose rear bushing mount screw.
11. Loose or damaged coupling screw.
12. Worn nosecone shaft bushing.

At this point since you've covered most of the bases, it may be a good time to take someone along for a ride with the rear seat bottom and the coupling access cover removed. When the rattle starts, the person listening should apply sideways pressure to shaft right where it comes out of the trans, then work forward to the coupling and rod to rule out the rear trouble spots. Make sure you don't shift while their fingers are in there!

Paul

mapitfirst1 · Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2014 8:01 am Post subject:

Good list Altema. Check marks along side all of them.
I had a stressful few hours yesterday replacing the coupler. The new coupler pin looked like it should fit but was too snug for me to get it through the rod. Inevitably, I dropped all sorts of parts into the bowels of my floor pan and spent most of my time fishing them out. There is still one of the bushings floating around under there somewhere. Yes, there was some cuss words emanating from the garage. I ended up using the old pin which looks fine anyways. The rattle now vibrates at a different frequency so it reaffirms that the coupler is likely the culprit. I still have to take it on the highway to see how bad it is at high speeds. Ugh!
Thanks

old jersey · Posted: Fri Oct 31, 2014 8:10 pm Post subject:

Altema · Posted: Sat Nov 01, 2014 2:34 pm Post subject:

Shawn · Posted: Wed Nov 05, 2014 9:01 am Post subject:

Are you referring to the shift rod guide bracket?
http://vwparts.aircooled.net/Shift-Rod-1956-64-Beetle-and-Ghia-for-Round-p/113-711-155.htm

TheFop · Posted: Sun Dec 28, 2014 12:49 am Post subject:

I'd like to say thanks to Altema for this thread and to all that contributed, I did my bush and coupler today on my 69 after finding it very difficult to select 1st and 2nd and my car has an old EMPI trigger shifter which made the situation far worse, I recalled this thread and used it to help me along.

I ended up using a bamboo cane with a piece of wire in a loop at the end to fish the rod out and also used a piece of number 8 wire (Kiwi's favorite) to hook the shift rod back up from the tunnel when getting the rod back into the guide.

My car has 88k from new and my bush was stuffed and the coupler was loose and perished, but now it shifts like a champ.

Here's what I removed

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

Thanks for your help folks.
_________________
Rusty 61 RHD Karmann Ghia Coupe - Resto in progress....slowly
Stock 69 LHD Karmann Ghia Coupe - Driver
67 New Zealand Spec Beetle - Being rebuilt
63 New Zealand Spec Beetle - Going Baja!
86 T25 Westfalia - Family Fun car


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Shift Rod Bushing replacement - cheater method
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