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Sloppy gear shift
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rondes55
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PostPosted: Sat Jun 19, 2021 8:04 am    Post subject: Sloppy gear shift Reply with quote

I have a 78 Super Beetle Convertible. The shift lever is very sloppy. Does anyone have a suggestion on how to fix my problem?
Thank You !
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Michael Ambrozik
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PostPosted: Sat Jun 19, 2021 8:21 am    Post subject: Re: Sloppy gear shift Reply with quote

Change the shift rod bushing and the coupler rubbers.
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Paul Windisch
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PostPosted: Sat Jun 19, 2021 2:27 pm    Post subject: Re: Sloppy gear shift Reply with quote

I second both of those suggestions. I will also add, spend a few extra dollars for a quality shift coupler. I had a really chintzy stamped piece of garbage at one time, when I didn't know better, and the cage ended up opening and the whole mess got very loose in a short period of time.
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Pruneman99
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PostPosted: Sat Jun 19, 2021 3:27 pm    Post subject: Re: Sloppy gear shift Reply with quote

Paul Windisch wrote:
I second both of those suggestions. I will also add, spend a few extra dollars for a quality shift coupler. I had a really chintzy stamped piece of garbage at one time, when I didn't know better, and the cage ended up opening and the whole mess got very loose in a short period of time.


What I do is take the rubber pieces out of the kit and install them in the OG cage. Everything else in the kit is garbage.

If you don't have a OG cage, they have heavy duty ones listed here in the classified section that look much better than that cheap ass stamped one you get as a kit.
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OTTO 1303
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PostPosted: Sat Jun 19, 2021 7:38 pm    Post subject: Re: Sloppy gear shift Reply with quote

Shift bushing directly behind shift lever inside tunnel and rear coupler, under access panel under rear seat.

Remove the shift rod completely, clean completely, and apply a light coat of grease, it lubricates and prevents further corrosion.

Very inexpensive fix, but can be time consuming.

Same as others have suggested, if any of the original VW parts can be reused, do so.
In many cases, used OG is of better quality than NEW Aftermarket.

Good Luck
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Cusser
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PostPosted: Sat Jun 19, 2021 9:25 pm    Post subject: Re: Sloppy gear shift Reply with quote

Pruneman99 wrote:
What I do is take the rubber pieces out of the kit and install them in the OG cage.


And see this; new ones can't even get the $%&$#@$%&^%$$^&&%$# dimensions right !!!!
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

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Tim Donahoe
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PostPosted: Sat Jun 19, 2021 10:53 pm    Post subject: Re: Sloppy gear shift Reply with quote

Cusser, the one on the right looks like a crap Empi one that I bought a few years back.

Tim
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lboos
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PostPosted: Sun Jun 20, 2021 3:55 am    Post subject: Re: Sloppy gear shift Reply with quote

Great example Cusser, pic's tell it all.
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rondes55
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PostPosted: Sun Jun 20, 2021 5:43 am    Post subject: Re: Sloppy gear shift Reply with quote

Thanks to all responders. Very helpful to an old (7Cool newbie.
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Cusser
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PostPosted: Sun Jun 20, 2021 8:15 am    Post subject: Re: Sloppy gear shift Reply with quote

lboos wrote:
Great example Cusser, pic's tell it all.


Like others, I used the inserts from the new one in the old housing on mine. Here were the old ones
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

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RWK
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PostPosted: Sun Jun 20, 2021 4:44 pm    Post subject: Re: Sloppy gear shift Reply with quote

Some of the bushing kits are junk also, just tried to do a bus kit, main shift rod bushings were way off, too small dia. and the notches were off. only could use one part in kit.
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creative native Premium Member
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PostPosted: Sun Jun 20, 2021 6:05 pm    Post subject: Re: Sloppy gear shift Reply with quote

I'm just chiming in to agree with everyone else here. All good advice and valid points. There's nothing like driving a VW with a new shift rod bushing and coupler rubber. You'll only wish you did it sooner.
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Rome
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PostPosted: Tue Jun 22, 2021 4:39 pm    Post subject: Re: Sloppy gear shift Reply with quote

Before you remove the shifter- lift up the carpet that surrounds the base of the shifter. Then do this. Make sure the paint mark extends from the shifter base down to the top of the tunnel. Make another paint mark at either the front or the rear of the diamond-shaped base so that you also have alignment against twisting. When you go to assemble after all the tedious work of replacing the shifter rod bushing, install the two bolts down hand-tight. Line up the shifter base with the mark on the tunnel until the lines are touching, but not overlapping. Then run those 2 bolts down tighter with the 13 mm socket.

The photo shows a pre-'65 shifter due to the heater knob in background, but the idea applies to your car also.
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

When you do lift the shifter out, you'll see this "squared off diamond" shaped plate. Top of photo is towards front of car.
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

This plate can be easily mispositioned; this one shows the correct way. The two "ramps" on each longitudinal side of the opening are pointing UP. The left ramp is the shorter one.

That gooey little "cup" in the middle of the opening is the front of the shift rod into which the small metal ball on the bottom of the shifter fits. The shifter bushing mentioned already is "inside" the tunnel, about 3" to the rear of that cup. It is the guide for the metal shift rod. When you take that rod out towards the FRONT of the car, clean off the old grease in and outside of that metal cup. Put new grease into the cup; not "saturated' but coat the surfaces inside. You can use either universal grease, or with graphite.
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