TheSamba.com :: View topic

Mon Nov 30, 2015 11:37 pm

While driving my 77 bus (manual transmission) today as I tried to shift from 1st to 2nd I heard a clink noise and it went into 2nd but didn't accelerate. I tried putting it back into 1st and still nothing. The bus stays running, but when I shift it into gear it doesn't go anywhere. It's like in neutral and when I push the gas it just revs. Does anyone know what it could be!?

Tue Dec 01, 2015 12:36 am

Does the tranny linkage move or stay still? Check the linkage connections.

If the connections are ok, the problem is likely internal to the tranny. Might be a broken hockey stick. You will want to replace a few other things while in there like the bushing and seal.

Tue Dec 01, 2015 1:11 am

If you are unfamiliar with the general layout of things, here is a great starting point resource so you know what you are looking at:

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=583515&highlight=hockey

Tue Dec 01, 2015 4:47 am

You likely had a CV joint come loose. Either the bolts came loose or sheared. Get new bolts and hardware and then tighten the bolts to the Vanagon spec of 33 ft*lbs. You might as well assume that all the rest of your CV bolts are loose and need retorquing as well.

You might consider buying and using some of these verses the stock Schnorr washers.

http://www.mcmaster.com/#91074a130/=101qlko

Tue Dec 01, 2015 11:10 am

thanks that link helped, the one thing I can see Forsure is that the area I circled in the photo is connected still. Would it be best to take the shifter apart first and see if something is wrong in there?

Tue Dec 01, 2015 11:38 am

No. Not yet. The best thing to do is to have someone manipulate the shifter while someone else observes the full linkage from end to end to see if and how it moves.

Tue Dec 01, 2015 1:17 pm

Lets begin with some basic stuff first, while a helper puts it in gear, releases the clutch and holds the brake you bend down and look at both the driveshafts, is either one turning?

Tue Dec 01, 2015 2:52 pm

busdaddy wrote: Lets begin with some basic stuff first, while a helper puts it in gear, releases the clutch and holds the brake you bend down and look at both the driveshafts, is either one turning?

Might be too much action down there for that, too much opportunity for miscommunication.
"Stop, the drive shaft is banging around!"
"Whaaat?"
"Stop, stop, the drive shaft is banging me, ow, ow."
"Whaaat? Do what now, now?"

How about:
Place gear shift in 1st gear - clutch pedal off - engine off - level ground.
a) did shifter seem to grab a gear? - No, check coupler, force a shift with vise grips push or pull.
b) Yes we have a gear selection, try to push car at driver's door. -
Yes car moves readily? check driveshaft integrity.

If the coupler is exploded with missing rectangular blocks, how about fixin that . . .
Colin

Sun Dec 06, 2015 2:43 pm

What happened? Give us an update.

Tue Dec 08, 2015 1:47 am

Well everything seemed to be moving with the coupler and everything I was able to check. Luckily a friend of mine is in a VW club and is sending one of their mechanics over to look at it. I explained what happened to him and he said its sounding like the transmission is bad. I'll update when he comes to look at it. I've done minor work before on my bus, but never involving the transmission. This one is out of my hands unfortunately ha I just hope to have it back and running soon :cry:

Tue Dec 08, 2015 2:07 am

Where would be a good place to get a transmission? Does anyone have any recommendations? What's the best way to go about this or pay someone to rebuild my current one?

Tue Dec 08, 2015 4:10 am

Three people have suggested in one way or another that you check that your driveshafts are still attached at both ends, have you checked this yet? The failure of the CV bolts is common and typically very cheap to fix. If your shifter feels normal when you try to put the tranny into and out of gear then your problem is most likely with the driveshafts.

Tue Dec 08, 2015 8:17 am

Are those on the sides of the transmission? Like I said I'm not too familiar with any of the transmission part of the bus, so any photos or locations would help a lot thanks.

Tue Dec 08, 2015 10:24 am

getmyvwontheroad! wrote: Are those on the sides of the transmission? Like I said I'm not too familiar with any of the transmission part of the bus, so any photos or locations would help a lot thanks.

Yes the axles are attached to either siide of the transmission and held on by six bolts on either end. If either of the axle spin when you put the tranny in gear, PAKRING BRAKE ON PLEASE then the outer bolts are sheared or backed out on one side, while if the axles don't turn but one of the hubs that sticks out from the tranny does (the axles bolt to these hubs) then an inner set of bolts is sheared or backed out.

This is a Beetle transmission as seen from above, the lay out is the same as for a bus. The inner flanges are not very visible in the picture.

Tue Dec 08, 2015 12:26 pm

It might just be the clutch. A friend has his disc disintegrate. No go nowhere! Engine runs and revs ok, trans shifts ok??, so no power transmission. Weak links are clutch, cv's. Check them first.

Tue Dec 08, 2015 1:10 pm

With the clutch out, GENTLY move the stick into first gear position trans should grind,if not then you probably have a linkage problem.

Tue Dec 08, 2015 10:06 pm

Alright thanks for the help/pics, I'll check out the axles and try going into first gear with the clutch out, I'll let yall know what happens!

Tue Dec 08, 2015 10:08 pm

And can anyone tell me what part the AXLES play in this? What's their purpose and what do they do? How could this prevent me from going into gear?

Tue Dec 08, 2015 10:57 pm

Axles transfer power from transmission to the wheels( really from one cv to another). Really, really doubt they are bad. If an axle broke, you'd likely hear massive banging about. Maybe a cv disintegrated on the drive side, but even then you'd probably still get some movement as the cv ball bearings are huge and strong. Does it reverse and move, by any chance? I still think clutch problem. How many miles on the Tranny?

Tue Dec 08, 2015 11:16 pm

getmyvwontheroad! wrote: And can anyone tell me what part the AXLES play in this? What's their purpose and what do they do? How could this prevent me from going into gear?

You are not afraid to ask questions so that's a great start. I would suggest reading the Muir book first and then graduating to the Bentley. You will enjoy the approach of Muir as an entry point.

http://www.amazon.com/Keep-Volkswagen-Alive-Step-Step/dp/1566913101