TheSamba.com :: View topic

Mon May 26, 2025 8:16 am

Hey Guys:

I'm a split bus guy lost in a Vanagon right now. It's an '85 and the current problem (of several) is the shifter- getting into first gear requires pushing slightly into the reverse gate lockout. I'm thinking the shift rod needs to be moved over one spline in the photo below. Supposedly someone else was messing with the shifter lately and may have caused this.

Is this spline non-indexed? Can I slide these apart, turn the rod one spline, and reinstall it?

Thanks!

Mon May 26, 2025 8:35 am

Yes, you can index it over. But I would follow the Bentley for shifter adjustment procedures.
In the box up front, do you still have the plastic ears on the guides?

To me, it looks like the shift rod should be further into the splines, like something else is not aligned correctly.

Mon May 26, 2025 8:42 am

Those are just knurls, not splines. The female portion of that joint is smooth. The knurling is simply to add grip to the joint so it doesn't slip.

Mon May 26, 2025 9:18 am

The front-to back distance looks fine, and someone has recently installed a new bushing - so it may well be that some adjustment is needed. Just loosen the clamp, and using vise-grips turn the two parts of the shifter rod relative to each other.