transmission problem

[capkirk45]

Hello,

Background:

I have a '77 Type 2 with a '79 4 speed, 1.8 L fuel injected engine. The transmission is a standard.


Problem:

Over the past two or three months it became increasingly difficult to shift into both first, and soon after, second gear. Then, a couple weeks back I had driven a few miles and parked it. Upon returning I could not get the bus into any gear except for third. Thinking it may be my shifter, which has required adjustment in the recent past, I took the bolts off and then tried to re-assemble it. I had it in neutral. I could not get it re-assembled, and then towed it to my mechanic, who told me the "transmission is shot and needs to be replaced".

He parked the vehicle on a side street and left it in gear. The shifter is still detached. I do not know how he got it into gear.

Question:

1. At the very least I need to get the bus into netural so I can tow it back to my house without it costing a fortune. Any ideas how to do that?

2. Any advice on how to approach this fix? Does it require a new transmission, or can that be fixed?

3. Is it even possible to find transmissions, and any advice on obtaining one?

Thank you

[Wasted youth]

If you can't get the shifter issue resolved (sorry, I have no suggestion a this point), you can removed the axle shafts and now your bus is free to be towed/pushed.

[mikedjames]

If it is truly the transmission stuck in gear, the driveshaft removal will ensure you can tow the bus.

On the other hand, if you can reach under the bus and move the shift coupler at the gearbox nose, you may find that the shift coupler is what has failed.

Or it may be the donut that the hockey stick engages with inside the gearbox nose, which is a $5 part and you only have to take the engine and gearbox out to get at it.

In both cases, disconnecting the shift coupler from the rod at the front, leaving the cage attached to the gearbox shifter shaft, will allow you to move the gearbox shaft further than with the shifter , and get it in neutral even if the donut has failed.
_________________
Ancient vehicles and vessels

1974 VW T2 : Devon Eurovette camper with 1641 DP T1 engine, Progressive carb, full flow oil cooler, EDIS crank timed ignition.
Engine 1: 40k miles (rocker shaft clip fell off), Engine 2: 30k miles (rebuild, dropped valve). Engine 3: a JK Preservation Parts "new" engine, aluminium case: 26k miles: new top end.
Gearbox rebuild 2021 by Bears.

1979 Westerly GK24 24 foot racer/cruiser yacht Forethought of Gosport.
1973 wooden Pacer sailing dinghy

[aeromech]

Hi there,
You should be able to pop it out of gear by using a very large screwdriver or similar. Just pry on the shift rod through the hole where the gear shifter was mounted. Don't use too much force.

I think it's most likely that your problem is in the nose cone of the tranny as someone else suggested. Here's a few pictures of what can fail inside there. The problem is that both the tranny and engine much be removed to gain access.

Nose cone removed. A plastic ball normally was used and they wear out.

Now you can get metal replacements for about $10

Besides the ball, the bracket can break

If the bracket is broken it will need to be welded as replacements aren't easy to find.
_________________
Lead Mechanic: San Diego Air and Space Museum
Licensed Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic
Licensed Pilot (Single engine Land)
Boeing 727,737-200-300-400,757,767
Airbus A319,320,321
DC9/MD80
BAe146
Fokker F28/F100
VW type 1 1962,63,65,69,72
VW Type 2 1971 (3 ea.) 1978, 1969
VW Jetta
VW Passat
Capable of leaping tall buildings in a single bound

[Tcash]

Weddleindustries.com
Steel shift ball
https://weddleindustries.com/products/1000169/1002085
C" BRACKET FOR TYPE 2 SHIFT LINKAGE, NEW
https://weddleindustries.com/products/1000169/1000741

[aeromech]

Thanks Tim, I stand corrected. I’m glad someone makes the bracket.
_________________
Lead Mechanic: San Diego Air and Space Museum
Licensed Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic
Licensed Pilot (Single engine Land)
Boeing 727,737-200-300-400,757,767
Airbus A319,320,321
DC9/MD80
BAe146
Fokker F28/F100
VW type 1 1962,63,65,69,72
VW Type 2 1971 (3 ea.) 1978, 1969
VW Jetta
VW Passat
Capable of leaping tall buildings in a single bound

[SGKent]

[capkirk45]

Thanks for all the replys. Much appreciated.

Stay tuned

Cap

[capkirk45]

[white74westy]

[Abscate]

Links working on my end

Note description on bracket

[Tcash]

[capkirk45]

Updates .. we have updates

Quite the story to tell ..

Convinced my mechanic, who is very good w/ VW's, to tackle the transmission problem. Told him if he cracks it open and can't fix, just bill me for his time and I'll go on my way into oblivion.

Turned out the gear shift housing was broken. Finding this part was not easy, but was ultimately successful, and the transmission was re-built with parts and labor for under a $1,000. I felt like I won the lottery. I got the bus back last week.

The next Monday (yesterday) I drove it to town. The distance was about 70 miles, and the ambient air temp was about 65 degrees, as I left my house about 5:45 AM.

Stuck in heavy traffic, the bus engine quit. The engine would turn over but not start. A deep, foreboding sense of doom started to creep in. I looked in the mirror only to see smoke pouring out the back. I made sure the vehicle wouldn't roll away and jumped out with my fire extinguisher in hand. Pulling open the engine compartment, sure enough the black plastic casing that sits towards the top was on fire, as was other non-metal parts from what I could tell. I extinguished the flames and thoroughly as possible, and it looked to be out. I want back to the front seat to contemplate my next move

About 10 minutes later I noticed smoke pouring out of the back, once again.. this time I knew I was in a bad spot with no way to attempt to put out the fire. A good Samaritan stopped and we attempted to put the flames out, but the engine comp door was closed and the flames were too intense to try to open it. The stricken bus was now doomed.

A fire engine finally showed up and put out the flames, which were mostly contained to the engine compartment. It was towed away, and that's where things stand now.

My question for you .. the transmission work and engine placement back into the vehicle happened mere days ago. I've driven in worse (i.e longer, hotter) conditions before with no fire. Do I have a case against the mechanic, and how should I best proceed?

I don't want to burn the bridge (bad word usage, but nevertheless) with my mechanic, as he's very good, but I've not lost my beloved bus. Any guidance is much appreciated.

Cap

[Liveonjg]

I think that ultimately the answer lies in what started the fire? Granted not an easy answer to illuminate. Inspect the crime scene and see if you can tell.
_________________
Keep it acoustic.

77 FI 2L Westfalia - Ripple
77 FI 2L Westfalia - Althea
62 Dual Carb Single Cab - Lou

[capkirk45]

Mechanic (who did the work) speculates it was an "overheated alternator". Sound reasonable?

[Wildthings]

[timvw7476]

[Tram]

[capkirk45]

The mechanic also worked on the idle and air-intake piping, as well as the spark plugs. I think he changed at least one of them.

The last point of note is that I asked this man very explicitly if the vehicle would be able to drive to town (about 70 miles away) on the following Monday (earlier this week), and he said it was good to go.

I would hate to go after this guy, but I just plugged a thousand dollars into it, and it now has a decimated, burned up engine.

[SGKent]

if you have insurance let them decide how to proceed. Many of us have chosen agreed-value policies to be sure we are compensated for the value of the bus. If you have a collector's policy that does not allow for daily use, you were out charging the battery or on your way to get a coffee and test the transmission repair. If you have no insurance ask the fire department if they have the ability to suggest where the fire began. Just a layman's opinion but the 10 minute delay between ignitions would make me think something electrical was involved.
_________________
“Most people don’t know what they’re doing, and a lot of them are really good at it.” - George Carlin