Hole in Shift Rod, is this normal?

[orange crush71]

I took out the shift rod to replace the coupler and shift rod bushing and figured I would pull the rod all the way out so I could clean it up and re grease it and found a hole in the middle ish of the rod and it looks like someone cut it. I've watched a few videos and it doesn't look like this hole is normally there. Is there a reason someone would have cut a hole like this and is it a reason to replace the rod with a new one? It's from a 1971 Superbeetle

[Bruce]

You may be right that it was cut, but could it also have been worn through? It would be near where the e-brake pivot is. Is there something in the tunnel in the way?

It doesn't look too serious so I think it will be ok. Deburr the edges of that hole so it doesn't tear up the bushing when you put it back in.

If you want to replace it, you need to get a shift rod from a 68 to 72 Beetle, Super Beetle, or Karmann Ghia that has a manual trans. Not an autostick. The new ones offered for sale are too short for your car.
_________________

[Bobs67vwagen]

Not normal. Might not be a bad idea to clean up the area around the hole and take it to a muffler shop and have them weld a piece of metal in there. Take it and grind the welds smooth and reinstall it.

[orange crush71]

Thank you both for your replies. I don't believe there is anything in the tunnel in the way, it shifted fine when the car was running, but I will double check tonight and make sure.

I had never thought about getting the hole fixed. I may try to tackle the patch myself as I have a mig welder and have been trying to do all the rust repair myself on the car. Do you see an issue with me using some scrap metal from previous patch pieces I have left over to patch the hole myself?

[Bobs67vwagen]

Any scrap metal of similar gauge should work fine. Good that you can do it yourself. Good luck

[redhot]

From - although limited - experience, having a shift rod that is smooth and without any defects really helps the install through the bushing. So even a practice run, an original item from the classifieds vers in good condition (no rust, no kinks/bends etc.) is maybe hard to beat. Or make sure to grund it flush or even a little below surface.

PS; the bushing itself is important - search on the forum and you will find.

Good luck in any regards

[orange crush71]

Well I think I figured out what caused that hole. I measured where the hole is on the shift rod and then measured that out on the tunnel from the shifter and the spot is exactly where the bolt for the driver seat belt buckle bolts to the tunnel. I'm assuming that the bolt that was in there is too long and sticks out far enough inside the tunnel that it wore that hole through the rod over time. Honestly not sure if it was me or a previous owner that had put that bolt in there, but now I know the bolt that goes in there needs to be a shorter one. I still need to weld in a patch on the rod, but I feel much better knowing where the hole came from. Thanks to everyone for your input and help.

[Bobs67vwagen]

Glad you found the source of the hole. Now you can fix it and move on to the next challenge in VW ownership.

[redhot]

[Cusser]

7/16" x 20 seat belt bolt
_________________
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

[orange crush71]

[Cusser]

[Multi69s]

[Cusser]

[bsairhead]

[redhot]

See thread;

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=154223

[Bruce]