1977 riveria..3rd gear only

[larrydeville]

1977 camper with stock federal 2.0L , manual transmission. We got this vehicle with no motor about 3yrs back and know from the red silicone in the transmission case seams that its has history. 2nd gear always required a bit of pulsing pressure on the stick and then a doink noise and it went in. Today we were on a road out somewhere by Bucks Lake 12 miles off the road and saw no one the whole day. All of a sudden second went in like it was not even there. Then it did not want to go in at all. Got it and stayed in 2nd for the climb out to the main rd. Then 3rd started acting tough to get to but 4th still easy. Everything got easy for a moment as we were comming to Oroville then we lost everything but neutral and 3rd. Caught most of the lights but try starting from a stop in 3rd. Very bad on clutch and engine....did it twice. Roll stopped 4 stop signs and made it to Yuba City driving 45 in 3rd. Waved people around me.... Going up on jack stand Monday... any sage advice will help. Thx..

[busdaddy]

Bad shift donut or cracked sector bracket would be my first guess, sounds like the nosecone has to come off so better read up on engine drops.
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[larrydeville]

You and the Mule have saved me soo many times. Thx again. Will post what I find. I was wondering if the rubber blocks in the flexible coupling can rot and cause problems. I do have a leak at the nose of the transmission and it makes me angry because I try to keep it clean. Im looking up the parts you told me so I can get started. Larry.

[busdaddy]

Well now.......I assumed you've already layed down under the bus while a helper runs through the gears and shoves the shifter side to side while you watch for play at the front and in the back where the rod connects to the nose of the transmission, 10 minutes well spent IMO and alot easier than an engine drop.
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Rust NEVER sleeps and stock never goes out of style.

Please don't PM technical questions, ask your problem in public so everyone can play along. If you think it's too stupid post it here
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[Tcash]

Worse case.

[Desertbusman]

[larrydeville]

As luck would have it I took a vacation day off so Monday morning...up on jack stands and the cover under the shifter and pedals removed. When my wife went for first the end of the front shifter rod went far enough aft that it went out of the missing guide sleeve bulkhead and jammed up on the side of it when she tried for second. When you try to shift there is movement but up to a brick wall. I could see the flexible coupling move back and forth quite a bit. Long story short....drop engine and tranny. A friend of mine has a bus tranny in a dune buggy that sits behind his barn. If its a late model tranny do they all have the same gear ratios? Thx...Larry.

[larrydeville]

Where am I to go for parts? I looked at Bus Depot and Aircooled and found no selector brackets. Its too hot outside right now to do anything so I was looking online for parts I might need.... thx....Larry.

[SGKent]

[Tcash]

Take a look at this. What parts are you talking about?
Shifter Parts ID

[larrydeville]

Where do I get a gear selector bracket and seal and gasket for the nose case?....Larry

[Tcash]

[larrydeville]

Thx for the help with parts.....the gear selector bracket in the nose is broken. I can with a little leverage move the shifter rods one at a time from the neutral position, in and out....so I think Im OK there. Going to mic the hockey stick for wear....get new seal and selector bracket. Thx..Larry.

[larrydeville]

Will order new selector Monday. Im wondering if the new gear selector bracket are any beefer. A guset plate on the bearing side would interfere with the bearing backing area in the nose cone. Larry.

[larrydeville]

Ordered my broken gear selector bracket from Long Ent in Sebastopol Ca. A few other things and it was on my porch the next day . Wed evening and nose case on the tranny Thx everyone for help.. Also good tine to cahnge fuel lines and heater cables....Larry

[larrydeville]

I got the bracket and the steel ball and new seal for the hockey stick. In the bentley book the picture shows the selector shaft with the small end up. I installed the bracket so the pin will have the small end down so it wont fall out. Is this correct? Thx...Larry

[Tcash]

Is this correct?
All the diagrams show it with the small end up. What retains the intermediate shift lever shaft. What am I missing here. Note that the shaft with the springs has two snap rings to retain the shaft and the other one has none. Does the nose cone when installed retain the shaft?

Thanks to ratwell

[old DKP driver]

Larry, Yes small end up for the shift lever shaft into the bracket.

You need to know that you set your trans bell housing down on the floor
to install. and the inside of the nose cone keeps the shaft from coming out.

Tcash. the snap rings separate the 2 springs. These were installed to provide a smoother shift feel.
_________________
V.W.owner since 1967

[larrydeville]

Thx for the ratwell pictures. Our transmission did not have a stop bracket,snaprings and springs. The shaft is smooth with no groves for snap rings. I just looked in my bentley book and it does not show the springs or stop bracket. Going to call Long Ent..... thx everyone...Larry.

[Tcash]

Thanks DKP.
Larry, I don't know what year, but the stop plate and springs where a design change. Your transmission may not of had them.
You will need your trans letters and numbers before you call Long.

Good Luck
Tcash