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corbin_dunn
Samba Member
Joined: May 01, 2010
Posts: 52
Location: santa cruz, ca
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 Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2014 7:36 pm Post subject: Rebuilt transmission won't shift (at all) - 1969 VW bug |
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Hi,
I have a 1969 bug and I just got a rebuilt transmission from MOFOCO.
Short: shifter won't work or move at all.
I tried to "manually" shift it by using some vice grips on the shaft under the seat. It rocks/rotates slightly side to side, and seems to be in a gear, but won't come forward or backwards no matter how hard I try. In my old tranny I can fairly easily shift it by hand.
I searched the forums; it sounds like this:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=573290&start=0
I just don't want to have pull the thing out and check the nosecone unless I have no other options.
How could it have gotten into this situation anyways?
Any ideas on what I can do?
Of course..I'm going to call MOFOCO tomorrow morning...
Thanks!
corbin |
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andrewvwclassic
Samba Member
Joined: January 25, 2012
Posts: 920
Location: los angeles
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| Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2014 8:35 pm Post subject: |
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| short answer is take a look down a gun barrel and liken it to your shift rod assembly, there is simply nothing inbetween the nose cone that will cause trouble. the only thing you can do is pull the motor and check the clutch and tranny. if mofoco did the work which I assume they did not because you are just know aware of a problem you would have realized when leaving their shop, let them service it. best advice I can give is chech the shift forks before you install a new one next time and make sure they are fluint in both directions. Good luck |
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olspeed
Samba Member
Joined: May 01, 2008
Posts: 489
Location: In the shadow of Denali, I still don't give a damn how they do it outside
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| Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2014 9:15 pm Post subject: |
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Most rebuilt transmissions don't come with a nose cone installed so I am wondering if you installed the one on your transmission but either way you should have checked to make sure that it shifted through the gears before it was installed... Right now the only thing you can do is pull it and remove the nose cone to see what you have.
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66- Ghia
76-Beetle |
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Mr.Duncan
Samba Member
Joined: May 12, 2012
Posts: 3542
Location: Houston, TX
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| Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2014 6:16 am Post subject: |
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My rebuilt one from The Wright Gearbox had the same issue.
The "dentent springs" that control/hold the actual shift forks were way to strong. I was told it was because of all the new bushings.
Installed in the car I couldn't shift AT ALL.
Factory manual says the force to pull (at the nose cone) for shifting gears is 35-45 lbs.
Mine was 85lbs
Ended up pulling the transaxle, bolting it to the engine on the floor, and then pulling hard till I could get it in 1st gear. Then let the engine run for 15 minutes between 1000-2000 rpm.
Shut it off, and did the same for the other 3 gears.
loosened up my transmission so I could shift, installed it in the car and it works fine now.
Still a pain in my ass.
If you do take the nose cone off, make sure everything is lined up, and the hockey stick is between the shift forks. like in the below photo.
If they sealed it with silicone, clean it off and put a new bead.
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(Owner) www.vintagecarleds.com
Red 1971 Squareback Thread
Red 1966 Beetle Thread
---------------------------------------------------
1971 Green Super Beetle (sold)
1966 Ghia (sold)
1971 Blue Super Beetle (sold)
1966 Java Green Std Beetle (sold)
1971 Red Squareback (sold)
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[email protected]
Samba Member
Joined: August 15, 2002
Posts: 4394
Location: Brew City
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| Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2014 8:32 am Post subject: Re: Rebuilt transmission won't shift (at all) - 1969 VW bug |
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| corbin_dunn wrote: |
Hi,
I have a 1969 bug and I just got a rebuilt transmission from MOFOCO.
Short: shifter won't work or move at all.
I tried to "manually" shift it by using some vice grips on the shaft under the seat. It rocks/rotates slightly side to side, and seems to be in a gear, but won't come forward or backwards no matter how hard I try. In my old tranny I can fairly easily shift it by hand.
I searched the forums; it sounds like this:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=573290&start=0
I just don't want to have pull the thing out and check the nosecone unless I have no other options.
How could it have gotten into this situation anyways?
Any ideas on what I can do?
Of course..I'm going to call MOFOCO tomorrow morning...
Thanks!
corbin |
Yeah, I am considering sending transmissions without the nosecone and hockeystick installed. All of a sudden, I am having tons of problems and I can't figure it out. I test drive the transmissions in a vehicle and everything is great. We take them out and replace all the hardware with new hardware. Then I have a custom tool that is a T handle that bolts onto the hockeystick. I then manually check to make sure it shifts. I do protect the nosecone in the box when I ship it. I've had 3 people in the last 3 months have this problem where it won't shift. It always ends up that somehow there are two levers pulled out at the same time and it won't allow the hockeystick to rotate between gears.
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Please "LIKE" us on facebook to see what we are working on.
https://www.facebook.com/mofoco?ref=ts&fref=ts
www.mofoco.com
Cylinder Head Reference Sheet |
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scrivyscriv
Samba Electrician
Joined: October 04, 2011
Posts: 2922
Location: Memphis
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| Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2014 8:45 am Post subject: Re: Rebuilt transmission won't shift (at all) - 1969 VW bug |
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| [email protected] wrote: |
| ...It always ends up that somehow there are two levers pulled out at the same time and it won't allow the hockeystick to rotate between gears. |
Easy to do if not paying attention close enough. Although it's an easy-to-find problem if you ops check the hockey stick movement after installing the nosecone.. This should not be a problem that is found out after installing the trans in the vehicle.
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Robert in Memphis
Dünkelgrügen 1967 Java Green bug thread
Engine rebuild thread
If you're ever in the Memphis area, you are welcome to stop by for advice and help.
Last edited by scrivyscriv on Wed Oct 22, 2014 7:39 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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[email protected]
Samba Member
Joined: August 15, 2002
Posts: 4394
Location: Brew City
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| Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2014 8:50 am Post subject: Re: Rebuilt transmission won't shift (at all) - 1969 VW bug |
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| scrivyscriv wrote: |
| [quote="[email protected] ...It always ends up that somehow there are two levers pulled out at the same time and it won't allow the hockeystick to rotate between gears. |
Easy to do if not paying attention close enough. Although it's an easy-to-find problem if you ops check the hockey stick movement after installing the nosecone.. This should not be a problem that is found out after installing the trans in the vehicle.[/quote]
Like I said, I can't figure out why it works here and then it doesn't work once it's installed in the customer's vehicle. We are the only place in the country that actually installs the transmissions in a vehicle and test drives them.
_________________
Please "LIKE" us on facebook to see what we are working on.
https://www.facebook.com/mofoco?ref=ts&fref=ts
www.mofoco.com
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Bruce
Samba Member
Joined: May 16, 2003
Posts: 17285
Location: Left coast, Canada
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| Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2014 1:42 pm Post subject: |
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| Mr.Duncan wrote: |
| The "dentent springs" that control/hold the actual shift forks were way to strong. |
This is a BS answer. The detent springs VW made don't magically get stronger.
Most rebuilds from California are made from cores that have 10 million miles on them, so everything is worn out. Standard procedure is to install a bronze bushing in the bores for the forward shift rods. If these bushings are not reamed large enough, it can be difficult to slide the shift rod.
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| overheard at the portland Swap Meet... wrote: |
| ..... a steering wheel made from a mastadon tusk..... |
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Mr.Duncan
Samba Member
Joined: May 12, 2012
Posts: 3542
Location: Houston, TX
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| Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2014 1:47 pm Post subject: |
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| Bruce wrote: |
| Mr.Duncan wrote: |
| The "dentent springs" that control/hold the actual shift forks were way to strong. |
This is a BS answer. The detent springs VW made don't magically get stronger.
Most rebuilds from California are made from cores that have 10 million miles on them, so everything is worn out. Standard procedure is to install a bronze bushing in the bores for the forward shift rods. If these bushings are not reamed large enough, it can be difficult to slide the shift rod. |
I'm stating what the transmission re-builder told me.
10 million miles on a core? Really?
_________________
(Owner) www.vintagecarleds.com
Red 1971 Squareback Thread
Red 1966 Beetle Thread
---------------------------------------------------
1971 Green Super Beetle (sold)
1966 Ghia (sold)
1971 Blue Super Beetle (sold)
1966 Java Green Std Beetle (sold)
1971 Red Squareback (sold)
1966 Red Beetle |
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corbin_dunn
Samba Member
Joined: May 01, 2010
Posts: 52
Location: santa cruz, ca
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| Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2014 2:43 pm Post subject: Re: Rebuilt transmission won't shift (at all) - 1969 VW bug |
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| [email protected] wrote: |
| corbin_dunn wrote: |
Hi,
I have a 1969 bug and I just got a rebuilt transmission from MOFOCO.
Short: shifter won't work or move at all.
I tried to "manually" shift it by using some vice grips on the shaft under the seat. It rocks/rotates slightly side to side, and seems to be in a gear, but won't come forward or backwards no matter how hard I try. In my old tranny I can fairly easily shift it by hand.
I searched the forums; it sounds like this:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=573290&start=0
I just don't want to have pull the thing out and check the nosecone unless I have no other options.
How could it have gotten into this situation anyways?
Any ideas on what I can do?
Of course..I'm going to call MOFOCO tomorrow morning...
Thanks!
corbin |
Yeah, I am considering sending transmissions without the nosecone and hockeystick installed. All of a sudden, I am having tons of problems and I can't figure it out. I test drive the transmissions in a vehicle and everything is great. We take them out and replace all the hardware with new hardware. Then I have a custom tool that is a T handle that bolts onto the hockeystick. I then manually check to make sure it shifts. I do protect the nosecone in the box when I ship it. I've had 3 people in the last 3 months have this problem where it won't shift. It always ends up that somehow there are two levers pulled out at the same time and it won't allow the hockeystick to rotate between gears. |
Thanks Roy! I didn't get a chance to call you guys today (got busy at work).
It sounds like I don't have much of an option: pull the motor/trans and pop off the nose cone and see what is wrong. I'll probably give this a try this weekend.
Anything else you can think of?
Mr Duncan: Those pictures are super helpful! Thank you -- I will take a look at that too.
-corbin |
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corbin_dunn
Samba Member
Joined: May 01, 2010
Posts: 52
Location: santa cruz, ca
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| Posted: Sat Oct 25, 2014 6:22 pm Post subject: Re: Rebuilt transmission won't shift (at all) - 1969 VW bug |
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Okay! I pulled the tranny out and took off the nose cone. I didn't quite see how the "hockey stick" was when I took it off. I verified that each gear shifted, pulled them all inline and put put it back together. Seems to be okay now!
I got it back installed and running; did a quick test up my hill and so far so good.
PS: I'm thinking about selling the car if anyone is interested. ~100 miles per charge. > 100 HP.
corbin
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