Another rough shifting thread!!!

[adam78]

Hey everyone, I have spent the past few days searching the forums finding people that had one problem or another, but no one seems to have all the same issues I am having, so I decided to ask you good folks outright. I have a 1972 Westy, and when I picked her up, she shifted...okay. First gear would grind a little even when the clutch was fully in, and each gear moved about as if it was in neutral. But I didn't have too much of an issue getting her moving (although see my other post on why she didn't make it home )

Aside from thinking I was in 2nd only to find out I was in Neutral, she did okay. Until I had to do a K-Turn. Reverse was fine, getting out was a battle. It took me about 3 minutes trying to get out of Reverse and into 1st. After this, 2nd gear would not engage at all. It just kind of whirs and grinds, first gear also seemed to grind a little more, and I haven't tried Reverse since.

The Bus has an aftermarket shifter, Handle says Hurst, not sure if the whole thing is a Hurst, but it seems well made. I have taken off the adjusting plate and tried fiddling with it multiple times. I have a new clutch cable coming in the mail (the current one looks fully adjusted/stretched and pretty old)

I also have a full bushing kit for the shifter coming from Bus Depot. But all of my attention has been on the shifter linkage by the driver, could this possibly be an issue in the tranny? 3rd and 4th shift like a boss, there isn't nearly as much slop in the shifter in those gears either, but there is more than i'm used to coming from a beetle and modern cars.

I'm currently building myself some full length ramps for the bus to act as a lift, so by Wednesday I should have the clutch cable and bushings done (if they ever freaking get here) If that doesnt work...what do I do?!
_________________
1975 Beetle 1600dp 4spd Daily Driver.
1972 Westy 1600 Type IV 4spd project/ soon to be driver.

[Tcash]

As the clutch wears out on a vw, you loosen the cable, not tighten it.

[Bala]

Did you check the coupler?
_________________
1976 Westy

1966 Beetle

[Tcash]

Shifter parts

[adam78]

[adam78]

Thank you all! It was impossible to get into 2nd and reverse, and first was a grinding annoyance. Thanks to those videos, and a new clutch cable, she goes into gear! No grind or issues. Still a lot of slop, but I've been looking into a vintage speed shifter. It currently has a T handle shifter which I don't like anyway.
_________________
1975 Beetle 1600dp 4spd Daily Driver.
1972 Westy 1600 Type IV 4spd project/ soon to be driver.

[Tcash]

Glad you got it shifting.
Thanks for following up.
Tcash