Diagnosing shifter issues

[madmike]

next step toss the stock shifter on the shelf and buy a decent aftermarket shifter ,,You'll thank us later cuz they shift 10 times better then stock
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[tthoms]

The job is done! Took me about 7 hours from start to finish.

I took the rod out completely. Cleaned it up and greased it. The most difficult part was putting it back in after I had it through the bushing. I used a yardstick to push the thing through. What a hassle! (I can see how the pvc tool comes in).
First time I got the rod back, it had worked its way under all of the cabling in the tube, so I couldn't hook it to the coupler. I had to move it back out and try again.
I replaced the urethane bushings, and sewed it all up! Shifts better, not perfectly. I may have to fiddle with the plate some, and there's still some noise at the shifter when I shift, but not nearly the racket I had.. (Then again, that may be normal?) But I'm kind of proud of myself for my first time doing this.

Thank you all for your help! Next up, the heating system!

[mcmscott]

[57BLITZ]

[KTPhil]

That looks like urethane or other hard plastic, not rubber. It may rattle more, and the rubber is easy enough to replace if it gets sloppy.

[mcmscott]

[tthoms]

[57BLITZ]

[KTPhil]

[mcmscott]

If you replace the coupler, re-use the original cage, throw the new one in the trash and just use the new bushings.
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[tthoms]

Thanks everyone for the tips and links. I plan on replacing the bushing, and though its not obvious they need it, the rubber parts of the coupler. Ordering the parts today.

Thanks again!

[Cusser]

I just replaced the factory shift bushing on my 1970 a few months ago, with photos on page 21 of my resurrection thread https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...;start=400


I did this 2 decades ago on my 1971 Super, was a little easier because the shift rod on a 1971 Super can move forward enough so taking off front panels is not necessary.

Apparently German-made shift bushings are available, from advertisers like CB Performance.
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1970 VW (owned since 1972) and 1971 VW Convertible (owned since 1976), second owner of each. The '71 now has the 1835 engine, swapped from the '70. Second owner of each. 1988 Mazda B2200 truck, 1998 Frontier, 2014 Yukon, 2004 Frontier King Cab. All manual transmission except for the Yukon. http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335294 http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335297

[KTPhil]

New one looks like this:

Here is a diagram to help you:

There are threads on how to replace this. It's a greasy job but that, along with replacing or refurbishing the coupler under the seat, will make it shift much better. Don't take shortcuts, or you will be doing it again shortly.

[Cusser]

Sounds like the shift bushing is no longer seated in the hole in the bracket, like you need a new shift bushing.
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1970 VW (owned since 1972) and 1971 VW Convertible (owned since 1976), second owner of each. The '71 now has the 1835 engine, swapped from the '70. Second owner of each. 1988 Mazda B2200 truck, 1998 Frontier, 2014 Yukon, 2004 Frontier King Cab. All manual transmission except for the Yukon. http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335294 http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335297

[tthoms]

[tthoms]

[66brm]

Wiggle the coupler back and forth, both shafts should move together, if they don't then there's a big part of the problem. Looks like the safety wire for the lock screw has broken
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[67rustavenger]

It slides freely on the shaft. Or the shaft slides through the bushing freely?
Makes a difference.
All of the bushings I have ever looked at are split and and have a retaining ring around the forward end of the bushing.
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[tthoms]

Okay, I went in and examined the contact points in question.

The coupler needs a cleaning, and there's some play in it when the shifter is moved. There's also a piece of safety wire towards the back, securing the back screw. I don't know how it is supposed to look, so I can't see anything wrong with it.

The shifter itself. I can't see anything wrong with that either.

The shifter plate and socket. As far as I can tell, ok from this angle.

Here's where I get nervous. There's a plastic ring around the rod that leads to the back. It seems to be split, and slides freely on the shaft.

That's bad, isn't it?

[VW_Jimbo]

I agree that the coupler sounds bad. The rubber side pieces sometimes become gummy. That causes a strange shift into and out of gears. Quick check will let you know.
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