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WiboBusMan
Samba Member
Joined: September 26, 2009
Posts: 172
Location: Canada
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 Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2025 7:07 pm Post subject: Re: UnsolvedHow to adjust 1990 Vanagon shifter linkage, 4 speed swap |
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| do.dah wrote: |
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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.
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I had a heck of a time with my '84 091... I tried to avoid the Bentley and the fact of having to do the work of representing the geometry of the system in my mind. The Gowesty process was temping for its simplicity, but it didn't remotely work, in fact made what was hard selection just about as accurate as random chance.
I finally bit the bullet and started off by cleaning and greasing all the linkage, including the U-joint, and then read, understood, and followed Bentley to the letter and have enjoyed butter smooth shifting ever since...
Cut and adjust the sheet metal gauge precisely and then do all the setup as described. The only thing that Bentley didn't account for is the accumulated slop from 40 years of wear, so the two vise grip thing is a must, when you understand the geometry of the system from underneath the van.
The only thing that I feel should be emphasized a bit more from this thread, is that the natural resting position of the shifter in neutral is on right side of the lateral travel of the shifter, between 3rd and 4th gear (to the right side of the horizontal line in the "H"). You should not be able to push it any farther to the right: you should have to pull it against the spring to engage 1st or 2nd.
Trust your Bentley.
W
_________________
Science has sacrificed Truth on the altar of its narrative.
Last edited by WiboBusMan on Mon Jul 14, 2025 1:29 am; edited 1 time in total |
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dubbified
Samba Member
Joined: March 03, 2010
Posts: 1488
Location: Redmond, WA
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| Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2025 8:55 pm Post subject: SOLVED How to adjust 1990 Vanagon shifter linkage, 4 speed swap |
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| Wildthings wrote: |
| 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? |
No question too dumb for this sap.
I cut the zipties, atv strapped the coolant pipes as far out the way, rezip tying. Adding triple the ties to distribute the pull..
then, I loosened the clamp, adjusted it with more space extending the splines.
It took clocking the shifter hard right, literally propping it forced tight in cabin, while verifying neutral.
I used a vice grip on the rear rod at the universal joint twisting the rod a bit, further preloading the shifter.
I went to the trans, there is a little play forward and backwards I put it slightly forward, 2/3 the travel..
Then, gave it 2-3 mm space inside the spline connection cranking it down.
Removed the blocks forcing the shifter.. The shifter now springs to the 3/4 gate.. Forward push gets 3rd, notches back to 4th..
Its not as bad as an old international delivery truck, but ill take it...
THANKS EVERYBODY!
Oh and if someone creates a cable shift replacement to the rod configuration sign me up... Take my money..
Plenty of engineers here.
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