How to adjust 4-speed swap shifter linkage? *Solved!*

[dubbified]

I swapped my 90 vanagon mv (sans kitch weekender) from auto to 4speed w t3 short shift spacer.. and was able to get into all gears.. but things didnt last.. less than a dozen shift attempts The 8.8 grade bolt supplied in the kit snapped.. (wrist tight)

I made the decision to remove the T3 spacer for the 4speed the union nut thing just was not holding the shifter plate well enough.. maybe next move is that super nice shifter tower.. but its like 500 something.. (not today)

I removed the shifter connection to the rod, I pulled the shifter plate, removing the spacer, removing the union nuts (that were acting like spacers) cleaning up the oe threads that hold the shifter plate down to the chassis, and got some new flange nuts for ideal clamping force so the shifter does not slop or flop around.

While in there reassembling the shifter throgh floor rod, I relubed the tabs.. putting the shifter alignment plate in the middle of its radial movement sweep.

Now, for the trick.. One man tasked with adjusting this flippin thing. What's the easiest path?

I read that the transmission should be in N, and the manual alludes to one of two spacers.. but the image on my book, sucks, and is like do dark I cant figure out were the hell it goes.

I looked in, https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=6236053#6236053 seeing its like herding cats that are all hungry for an answer.. not a clear answer is found.. and not a step by step guide.. pictures always helps, for a guy who's never seen this thing in action.

Anyone have a guide on the process that enables 1 person to do this alignment?

The bent chap 34, 34.5 calls out two spacer sizes.. mmmm.. which to use?

Technically my setup was originally auto, I have no reference as to which I should use.

The only fun business I put forth during this project was a new union joint, a gowesty lightweight shifter lever cup, new shifter lever on trans.. and all new bearing on the floor, new box.. new shifter gate bolt on piece that goes on that box.. and I replaced the tabs on the shifter with a new epoxy on kit, reconditioned the rods in epoxy black paint for suspension and heat shrinked them so they look very pretty, and reduce vibration, or resonance.

Thanks!

[MarkWard]

The manual complicates a simple adjustment. The above picture is what your shift rod looks like in neutral. Mimic that and you should be good.

[ALIKA T3]

I made a video showing how simple this is, on my IG page.
Here's the link to it, 1 person job.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C5XATQxPjBs/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
_________________
Silicone Steering Boots and 930 Cv boots for sale in the classifieds.
Syncro transmission upgrade parts in the Classifieds.
Subaru EJ22+UN1 5 speed transmission
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=416343
Syncro http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4...num+gadget

[dubbified]

OH MY..

Thank you guys!!

I am building a wood box and baseplate for the shifter booty, which will provide a foundation for the 8 gang switch panel I am adding.. final mod before I can drive it..

Having the shifter in a known ideal configuration is essential to knowing my tolerances for that box..

As far as the position of the shifter, how to "hold" that in the right place?

I've alredy come to find using two vice grips on each half of the shaft, then loosening the splined connector seems to be good measure..

Will check out this vid!

[dubbified]

Alright, I am still struggling.

The process in that vid is what I am following.

I can get the shifter to shift the transmission into R, 1, 4, but not 2nd.. or 4th.. its like, it can almost engage, but does not engage.. clipping some teeth as I try to shift.. so, back to capture some advice.

I did follow the instructions, a 1-2mm visible gap inside the rod/knuckle adjustment under the van.. I did this, twice, no change. Surely can get into three gears quickly..

Should I be, loosening the clamp on the slotted adjusting clamp knuckle.. shortening the rod by pushing the splined shaft into the housing, and retightening the clamp?

[crazyvwvanman]

Post a photo or two of the transmission end of your linkage.

It is a very common mistake to mount the rear bushing plate on the wrong side of the 2 ears on the side of the transmission.
This makes it hard to fully engage some gears.
The plate needs to be on the FORWARD side of the ears.

It is also possible to assemble the bushing plate itself in more than one way.


edit: here is a photo of the 2 ears on the side of the trans, for the bushing plate.
The plate goes on the side closest to the front of the vehicle.
Also, push the plate up firmly and hold it there before tightening the 2 bolts.

Mark

[dubbified]

Thanks for the poiinters here!

oh what the....

HEY... That.. is the cleanest trans.. I'd ever seen. omg.. meticulous bolt treatment.

I see what you're doing there.

it works.

This is the issue, the tab is mounted to the rear side of that two bolt mounting boss.

I'm on it.

Thanks!!

[dubbified]

I moved the rear bushing holder to the front of the 20mm two bolt transmission lug boss. Nothing else.

It wont go into reverse now, I can get into first, in R position, down, left, forward.

Unsure what the next move is. I did everything in that video.

I can verify as the manual shows, it appears I should be seeing reverse.

Then I can loosen the midshaft spine clamp.. manually engage transmission lever into reverse lights come showing its in reverse.. Manually putting the shifter into reverse lockout.. Tighten the spline connector moving it out if reverse, can't get back in.

Mmmmmmmmmgrrrrrrr

So sad that no one put a cable shifter into this van.. so needed.

I miss my 02J diesel trans in my gti.. I modded it to accept the 228, and the cable shift.. it was.. sublime.

[dubbified]

[ALIKA T3]

Did you watch my Instagram video?
It's a 2 minute job unless you got some shit going on.
Bent shifter, bent rods, parts not assembled correctly,wrong parts stuff like that.

Why don't you take a lot of pictures of what you got to see what's going on?
_________________
Silicone Steering Boots and 930 Cv boots for sale in the classifieds.
Syncro transmission upgrade parts in the Classifieds.
Subaru EJ22+UN1 5 speed transmission
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=416343
Syncro http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4...num+gadget

[MarkWard]

The picture is the base of the shift lever under the floor looking forward. Easier to see with the spare down.

[fxr]

[do.dah]

Since I'm fighting demons with my own shifter, I probably shouldn't be saying anything,, buut, maybe I'll have some kinda've epiphany if I write something for someone else, or maybe shed some light for someone else...

Since you have swapped to manual, you have a mucho larger chance of things being wrong than I do, since mine is factory.

In my case, for the 1st time ever, I renewed every shifter wear item under the van at one time, rather than a part here and there every few yrs.
Before the total renewal, I never had issues with getting things clocked correctly to shift smoothly.
Since one of the things I replaced, was the universal joint, I'm at the point where I wonder if I assembled it wrong? I hope sometime this weekend, to catch the neighbor and ask him if I could slip under his van and check how his universal is oriented.
If you look at that universal, you'll see that one of the arms that hold the universal is longer, essentially offsetting the front rod. Currently, my long arm is facing straight down.

I've tried Mark's quarter method, the Bentley method, my previous method of just sticking everything back together and tweaking a little, all to no avail.
Recently, I looked up GoWesty's advice;

https://gowesty.com/blogs/article-library/shifter-...R6_YP-PGqw

and they have some sage advice in points 8-15, ESPECIALLY points 11 and 15.

As for your question to Mark about "how is this neutral?" when the shifter is in the driverside gates,, I THINK(?) you hafta remember that you hafta compress the tranny shift shaft IN to get to reverse, so whether you use the quarter method or the Bentley, the idea (I THINK?) is to have enough "twist" to get thru the reverse lockout and into reverse.

Ugh, someday, maybe, I'll have the vocabulary and understanding to succinctly write something.....

[MarkWard]

I find myself typing this often. Sitting in the drivers seat in neutral, there is no side movement for 3rd or 4th. It’s an illusion that you need to move the lever to the right to select 3 or 4. You don’t. The lever should always be resting in neutral to go straightforward into 3 or straight back to 4.

You need to move the shift lever to the left for 1 and 2. You need to be down and to the left to select reverse or reverse and granny in a syncro. Shifting up if you pull out of second and relax the shifter, from neutral it will align itself for 3 and 4. No movement to the right required.

This is such a simple system once it clicks in your head. The manual to me is actually confusing. What’s best till you figure it out is to have someone move the shifter while you watch from below. Don’t feel bad, this is probably one of the most common problems members come here seeking help with. Good luck.

[dubbified]

[dubbified]

Is there an image of the orientation the rear shift rod? I'd it possible I installed the thing upside-down? The rod isn't pictured in. The manual only the the end, conceivably I assembled the gowesty cup upside down...


Posting pics soon..

[dubbified]

[ALIKA T3]

You're slightly too deep in the splines but it shouldn't matter much, that just changes the throw.
Transmission mount is in the correct location so that's good.
You have do a bunch of shit close and below the shifter, is it touchinhg the rod? Especially in reverse, bc the shifter rod drops down as you know...
_________________
Silicone Steering Boots and 930 Cv boots for sale in the classifieds.
Syncro transmission upgrade parts in the Classifieds.
Subaru EJ22+UN1 5 speed transmission
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=416343
Syncro http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4...num+gadget

[dubbified]

[Wildthings]

A dumb question, but you do know that you need to push the shift lever down before you push the lever to the left to get it to go into reverse?