1969 Karmann-Ghia Gets Stuck in 4th Gear. Why?

[AJC1967Boone]

1969 Karmann-Ghia gets Stuck in 4th Gear. Why?

I cannot disengage out of 4th gear, I double clutch and triple clutch with no luck. I then have to pull over on the side of the road and turn off the motor and after 10 minutes, the engine and gear box cools down and then miraculously, it will disengage out of 4th gear. All other gears work fine and it is drivable, as long as I dont shift into 4th gear. Why?

[John Ghia]

I would start with checking the transmission mounts fluid level.
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BUS BOYZ

[AJC1967Boone]

yes, I checked and replace the transmission/gearbox oil and it still gets stuck in 4th gear.

[Braukuche]

[jeffrey8164]

I don’t have any magic answers for you either.
Being that it only happens while it’s warmed up it might be a simple adjustment.
But I really don’t know what I’m talking about.
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Volkswagen!
Turning owners into mechanics since 1938.

“Let he that is without oil throw the first rod”
(Compression 8.7:1)

[AJC1967Boone]

OK, I am going to do some more detective work on this....
Worst case scenario, I will rebuild or replace the transmission.
I will post all updates from my findings.

[Starbucket]

Check the shift couplers for slop and is your clutch pedal adjusted with 1" of Freeplay before you feel the throw-out bearing start to move?

[AJC1967Boone]

Is the shift coupler the u shaped connector underneath the rear seat?

I can press down on the clutch about 1" and it disengages

also, I took images of the clutch pedal, this is how it was set up when I got the car.... not sure why this is set up this way...........

[Era Vulgaris]

Your brake pedal is way too far from the firewall, and your clutch pedal shouldn't need assistance to stay in place. It looks like you're probably missing the pedal stop that bolts to the floor behind the pedal cluster to limit how far both pedals can be from the firewall.

When you press the clutch pedal in, do you hear any scraping or movement noises coming from inside the tunnel? I'm wondering if any of the clutch cable tube welds have broken, allowing the tube to move which would create difficulty changing gears.
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Currently own:
66 Karmann Ghia, L390 Gulf Blue, under construction, here: www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=760505&highlight=
99 Mazda MX-5 10AE, Sapphire Blue Mica, 6 speed, LSD

Previously owned:
98 Porsche Boxster, silver, 2.5L -- 67 Karmann Ghia, Black, 1500sp -- 98 BMW Z3, Atlanta Blue Metallic, 2.8L I6 -- 75 Porsche 914, Laguna Blue, 2270cc -- 72 Porsche 914, Signal Orange, 1.7 FI -- 74 Karmann Ghia, Black, 1600dp -- 74 Triumph TR6 with O.D., sapphire blue

[AJC1967Boone]

I took it out for a drive today and all the gears shift smoothly into all the gears, but again, the 4th gear gets locked in until I pull over and let the engine cool down. As long as I avoid the 4th gear, the car is operable and drives ok.

When depressing the clutch pedal, there was no scraping or movement noises coming from inside the tunnel

[Marfa61KG]

[Chad M]