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Thu Nov 23, 2017 12:40 pm

I am a new member to this site but have been reading for a while. I have had other off-road vehicles, trucks and tubs. I recently bought a 4 seat foddrill buggy. I bought it know there was an issue with reverse. I am also new to transaxles sorry i apologize for my ignorance. I am coming to all of you for your knowledge that i am lacking. Here is my problem. Reverse pops out of gear but not immediately. I reverse gingerly so i don’t break anything. After about 20’ or so reverse pops out. If i hold the shifter it grinds when it comes out of gear and i let off immediately. This may be my ignorance but if reverse was missing a tooth i would think it would pop out much sooner and be a bit more consistent than it is. The shifter is a jamar super shifter and the linkage is set up so i cannot adjust its length. Also, when shifting into reverse it doesn’t have the same clunk feeling the other gears have when going into 2nd and 4th gear. I also noticed 4th gear has a little space between the linkage nut and the shifter box, 2nd has less space and reverse slams the nut against the shifter box. Any thoughts? Is this sound like a shifter issue or a trans issue. Any other things i can do to narrow it down?

Thu Nov 23, 2017 2:37 pm

Disconnect the shifter linkage from trans shift shaft. Manually put the trans in reverse. Back up. Still jump out? trans problem. Doesn't jump out? linkage problem.

Thu Nov 23, 2017 3:43 pm

If putting it in reverse slams the adjuster nut into the back end of the box, then the linkage is wrong or maybe the shift fork inside the trans is bent. This is a good probability if the shifter is right for the other gears.

Thu Nov 23, 2017 3:53 pm

I will disconnect the linkage and manually put it in reverse and see what happens. Yes all forward gears work perfectly.

Thu Nov 23, 2017 4:04 pm

I have been told the Mendeola transmission has a VERY weak reverse in them.

Ed

Thu Nov 23, 2017 4:30 pm

I have heard a lot of buggys get winched onto the trailer backwards.

Thu Nov 23, 2017 5:29 pm

no1clyde wrote: I have been told the Mendeola transmission has a VERY weak reverse in them.

Ed

Yups, still uses the bug/bus style reverse gear...which is fragile. I will never understand why mendeola didn’t bother to improve the stupid reverse gear in those transmissions. Way to much $$$ for something with a basicay stock style reverse gear.

Fri Nov 24, 2017 9:36 pm

Looks like it is in the transaxle. I have the motor pulled and now for the trans. Like i said transaxles and cv’s are new to me. How do i remove the axles to pull the trans. Probably a stupid question but i don’t want to learn the hard way and break something.

Sat Nov 25, 2017 8:24 am

Ewiden wrote: Looks like it is in the transaxle. I have the motor pulled and now for the trans. Like i said transaxles and cv’s are new to me. How do i remove the axles to pull the trans. Probably a stupid question but i don’t want to learn the hard way and break something.

IF you have CV's there should be 6 bolts (#5 in image) around circumference of CV joint that needs to be removed.... Requires special 12 point 8mm socket (driver) or may have been replaced with 6 point Allen head bolts... Lot of times socket head is full of dirt and stuff making hard to insert driver tool... Also PO may have buggered them up so bad driver tool wont work... IF vice grips don't work, cut head off and go from there....

http://vwparts.aircooled.net/VW-CV-Joint-IRS-Axles-s/149.htm

http://www.outfrontmotorsports.com/cv_assembly.htm

Dale

Sat Nov 25, 2017 8:43 am

Like dusty said, make sure the shifter linkage is proper, you don't want to jack up the repaired trans due to improper gear engagement.

Sat Nov 25, 2017 10:04 am

I removed the linkage from the shifter and used it to manually shift. It seems that the linkage moves the same distance whether or not it was attached to the shifter. I will be cautious when i put the trans back in to make sure the linkage is correct. No on to my next speed bump. I took the cap on the hub off and found this. Fml. Axle too long?

Sat Nov 25, 2017 10:20 am

Axles free float in both CV joints, will it "push in", if it does then it might not be to long.... But its possible axle merely decided to rest poked out some... Axle and CV need to be in flat position (shortest, compressed length) to determine if its to long....

Is transaxle and rear suspension from a BUS or Porsche as it does not appear to be typical type 1 ...

Dale

Sat Nov 25, 2017 12:17 pm

It’s not. It is a 4 seat dual sport car built by Foddrill.

Sat Nov 25, 2017 11:15 pm

Mid-board hubs.

It DOES appear that the axle is too long. At full droop as it appears to be in the pic, the axle should have only about 1/4" of spline showing between the retainer clip and the outer face of the CV hub.

But I would expect more damage from passing through center of travel where the axle length requirement is the shortest.

Sun Nov 26, 2017 8:42 am

Help me here, have not ever seem mid-board hubs...

Dale

Sun Nov 26, 2017 10:47 pm

I am strapped at about 24 degrees of cv angle at full droop right now which is shown in the picture.

Mon Nov 27, 2017 7:08 pm

Welcome to Offroad Rear Hub 101!

Today's lecture:

- Inboard hubs are like stock VW hubs with the CV mounted at the inboard end of the stub axle and inboard of the stub axle bearings.
- Outboard hubs have the CV mounted so the inside face of the CV is at the wheel mounting surface. The CV is completely outboard of the stub shaft bearings.
- Midboard hubs have the CV mounted so the outboard face of the CV is flush with the wheel mounting face. As seen in the picture.

- Then there are micro stub hubs, where the stub shaft is very short and the bearings are next to each other instead of spread apart like the stock VW hubs. This puts the bearings just inboard of the wheel mounting face and the CV just inboard of them, thus very close to the wheel mounting face.

Mon Nov 27, 2017 8:00 pm

dustymojave wrote: Welcome to Offroad Rear Hub 101!

Today's lecture:

- Inboard hubs are like stock VW hubs with the CV mounted at the inboard end of the stub axle and inboard of the stub axle bearings.
- Outboard hubs have the CV mounted so the inside face of the CV is at the wheel mounting surface. The CV is completely outboard of the stub shaft bearings.
- Midboard hubs have the CV mounted so the outboard face of the CV is flush with the wheel mounting face. As seen in the picture.

- Then there are micro stub hubs, where the stub shaft is very short and the bearings are next to each other instead of spread apart like the stock VW hubs. This puts the bearings just inboard of the wheel mounting face and the CV just inboard of them, thus very close to the wheel mounting face.

Got it... Thank you...

Dale

Wed Nov 29, 2017 9:00 pm

I unbolted the cv from the wheel flange, seen in the picture with the wheel studs, and removed it. Now the cv is inside the hub and it feels like it is pressed in. How the hell do i get it out.