| Author |
Message |
[email protected]
Samba Member
Joined: April 04, 2002
Posts: 2
|
 Posted: Thu Apr 04, 2002 8:13 pm Post subject: Shifting problems |
 |
|
I have a standard 73 beetle. When I purchased the car it had a new engine and tranny and a week after I acquired it I had an increasingly harder time shifting into 1st and then 2nd until I could no longer go into those gears. I needed the car in a hurry so I brought it to VW place and they replaced the shifter (handle). Now three months later its happened again except this time Im 60 miles away from home. It can shift into first with the engine off, but not when its on. 2nd is really hard, and now reverse is a clunk. Any suggestions? Engine sagging out of position. Also the manual states that the groove on the shifter ball must line up with the notch on the cup? My cup is smooth as ice. Can't seem to nick this problem.
Thanks |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
[email protected]
Samba Member
Joined: February 05, 2002
Posts: 21
|
| Posted: Thu Apr 04, 2002 11:21 pm Post subject: Shifting problems |
|
|
The main causes of poor shifting are ...
1. Badly adjusted clutch cable - the clutch should disengage in the first half of travel - not down near the floor.
2. Worn shift rod bushing, in the tunnel just behind the gear stick. There's a procedure on my web site (below) for fixing this.
3. Worn rear coupling - under the rear seat - remove the cover plate on the tunnel to see it - also covered on my web site.
You said "engine sagging out of position" Is that a question or a statement? If a question, the answer is "probably not". If it's a statement, then I'd say the engine/tranny mounts were the most likely culprit.
Re the "groove in the shifter ball". The early beetles with cranked gear sticks, and all the semi-autos, have a groove and notch method of keeping the gearstick at the right angle. The manuals with straight gear stick have a smooth cup and ball, and the stick is free to turn in the cup.
Regards
Rob
Rob and Dave's aircooled VW pages
Repairs and maintenance for the home mechanic
http://www.geocities.com/aussiebug1970/ |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
[email protected]
Samba Member
Joined: April 04, 2002
Posts: 2
|
| Posted: Mon Apr 08, 2002 9:49 am Post subject: Shifting problems |
|
|
Thanks Rob!
It was the shifting cable. It had way too much slack. (About 2.5" instead of 3/8-3/4) I adjusted it and now it shifts fine, however the clutch seems to have been worn down.
Alan |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
