TheSamba.com :: View topic

Sun Apr 29, 2007 9:51 am

I don't think the plugs are plastic. Mine look like an allen head stud. You might find a short threaded bolt (make sure it is short so it doesn't interfere with the forks) and use a copper oil screen gasket under it or maybe a flat washer with a small dab of silicon under it.

I'll ask when I pick up my tranny this week. Do you have the tranny number (stamped on the right side), to be sure they get me the right parts. Year would be good, too.

By the way, that photo I posted seems wrong... the order should be ball, spring, plug, NOT spring, ball, stud. (A few of the VW photos have problems ilke this.)

Tue May 01, 2007 6:40 pm

UPDATE:

Talked to the tranny shop... the photo is actually correct, but it is misleading--the spring and ball go in the hole BEFORE the shift forks. They are not held in by the plugs--they are BEHIND the shift fork and cannot fall out. So you probably have balls; imagine your relief! ;-)

The plugs, they say, on early beetles were some kind of cork or fiber material that tended to disintegrate. He says you can machine it to take later plugs, but a good cleaning and a dab of silicone will do the trick.

Tue May 01, 2007 8:14 pm

My '64 was missing two of these plugs and I whittled down two brake bleeder rubber caps and RTV sealed them in place. They've sealed perfecly since about '86. I partially drained the trans down past the holes overnight and cleaned with brake-clean.

Tue May 01, 2007 9:28 pm

Well whew; thank you for clarifying that :D

Wed May 09, 2007 10:54 am

Just to close the loop on my problem, I have been informed that the plugs on the earlier VW transmissions were made of cork or rubber, and after 40 years or so, they dry out and disappear. For the later transmissions, VW used metal plugs. Anyway, Rancho Performance Transmissions sells metal plugs for the holes (about $4 per plug). I understand that I can just tap the plug into the holes and problem will be cured. Sure beats dropping the tranny - which is something I really don't want to do.

Thanks for everyone's help in identifying the problem and helping me find a solution.