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Fri Apr 10, 2015 4:46 pm

Hello all! New to the Beetle world, just picked up my first one last weekend, a 69 type 1. Pretty nice but needs a little TLC. Right now it doesn't want to shift into gear so figured I would change the bushing and shift coupler and adjust the clutch pedal. Pulled the shift rod out no problem, bushing was toasted. Went to pull the shift coupler and noticed it had an extension welded on. Any ideas why? Tried a search real quick but didn't see anything. Thanks!

Fri Apr 10, 2015 5:09 pm

was your bug previously an auto stick?

Fri Apr 10, 2015 5:39 pm

Not that I'm aware of.

Fri Apr 10, 2015 5:46 pm

So many odd things happen to these cars in their history. Hard to say for sure. I'm going to guess the shift rod was bent somehow causing it to be slightly short and twisted, hence welding the extension piece on a little rotated. Or maybe two chassis were welded together to make one and they are a little off :-)

Sat Apr 11, 2015 10:29 am

Shift rod is pretty straight and isn't twiste at all. Only thing I can think of is maybe the PO put in a shorter rod for some reason but I thought they were all the same length.

Sat Apr 11, 2015 11:37 am

auto sticks and manual shift rods are different lengths

Sat Apr 11, 2015 7:37 pm

Its definitely a shifter coupler for an auto stick conversion. Just take the bushings out of the new coupler and put it in the old coupler.

Mon Apr 13, 2015 4:38 am

pwmcguire wrote: Its definitely a shifter coupler for an auto stick conversion. Just take the bushings out of the new coupler and put it in the old coupler.

That's what I ended up doing. Measured it and it is definitely not the stock rod. Made the clutch cable adjustment, changed both bushings and she shifts like brand new! Got lucky, guy I picked it up from said it needed a new clutch.
Thanks for the help!!