New Delrin Shift Rod Bushing

[raygreenwood]

Yep...spot on. The spring which is really just a different version of the type of spiral clip that goes on a ball joint boot...keeps tension between the plastic bushing and the rod.

Not sure about your cars but on my 411 and 412's, the plastic bushing snaps into the hole in the chassis and it holds OK. But the bushings spring outward from the split in the side as you notice even in that picture. If the rod is undersized you need something to clasp the bushing around the rod to keep it centered and get rid of lateral play. Not all rods need that. My 412 does.

For a while in the 1990's the ones I was buying had an o-ring made out of something like urethane that went in that wider groove forward of the groove that snaps into the body. They worked great...until the urethane dried up and just snapped and then one day when the grease gets a little chalky the bushing grads on the rod and the rod pushes the whole thing forward into the body cavity and the shift rod starts chattering around.

The next bushing I put a fat neoprene or viton o-ring on it and it worked fine. Even that will get hard and give out though. The coil spring is best.

The spring is installed as far forward as you can get so that the rearward section where it snaps into the body stays flared out to stay mated to the hole. Ray

[flatfour]

Any updates for those that have installed and tested these?
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'68 Bug
'74 Ghia

[H2OSB]

[flatfour]

[Vanapplebomb]

Out of curiosity, why add a lubricant that will attract abrasives from the road? Silicone grease is excellent for Delrin, but not sure if it would help or hurt in this application.
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1800 Type 4 Berrien 295

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=487021

[H2OSB]

I considered that. Can't say I won't regret it. I only lubed the area that lives inside the bushing. My only reason for polishing the entire rod is that I had "restored" it by sanding it the spraying a layer of clear coat. The clear coat didn't like passing through the bushing, so I sanded it off. I polished in the hope of reducing rust

H2OSB
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(o\_i_/o) Funny thing about pigs, they're cleaner than you and me. Well....you.

[chrisflstf]

The stock bushing uses lube so I dont see any difference in lubing a delrin bushing. My only question is which lube is best for delrin?

[Vanapplebomb]

Any silicone based lube is excellent with Delrin. That’s what I use in industrial applications that are not exposed to abrasive grit. If it’s a dusty environment, and it has to be Delrin, I leave them dry. Depends on the situation.
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1800 Type 4 Berrien 295

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=487021

[chrisflstf]

Wd 40 silicone specialist spray lube sounds good. Water resistant, doesnt attract dirt
.

[RWK]

The tunnel area should be basically dust proof with all the boots and seals in place, use a lube as VW recommends.
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73 Type 181
63 Type 113
63 Type 261- 428 071
62 Type 241-378 025 178 530

[Vanapplebomb]

[Dauz]

Not sure if I've mentioned it already. But I never lubed the delrin bushings in my 3" beam. They never needed it.

[APPLEGREENVW]

[heimlich]

Who has the most miles on theirs? The test of time is the proof in the pudding.
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[bnam]

The Youtube review was not very positive. Any reviewers here?
_________________
1971 1302LS Convertible (RHD) owned since '74
Click to view image
1965 Karmann Ghia Coupe - under restoration
1966 Fiat 1500 Cabrio (with 1600 Twin cam)
1952 Citroen TA 11BL

[H2OSB]

I watched the video. I did not have the issue with the little locking tabs. In fact, I originally misaligned the bushing and was having trouble with the installation...until I read the instructions . The instructions clearly state to align the bushing with the slot at 12 o'clock. I removed the bushing to correctly align it an it snapped right in with firm finger pressure. I assumed I could snap it in place and rotate for correct alignment, however, it is molded with relief in two spots to snuggle up to the hanger and will only "lock in" with the slot in the proper location. After correcting my issue, I looked back at Jpaul's description, and he mentions the locking in with correct alignment.

Regarding the shift coupler. I have the cage style and had zero issues mating the end of the shift rod to the end of the hockey stick to get them connected.

When reading the comments made by the guy who designed the bushing, he says the bushing will be stiff-ish immediately upon installation, but "wears in" nicely. With my freshly rebuilt gearbox and my Bug-Tec shifter, I love the feel of rowing through the gears. Firm but positive.

H2OSB
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(o\_i_/o) Funny thing about pigs, they're cleaner than you and me. Well....you.

[Bus boy 89]

A group of us bay bus owners in the U.K. did group buy of the delrin shifter bush from Washburn for our type 2’s. After the initial cost, postage and then the import duty we all discovered it doesn’t fit. It’s made wrong and doesn’t snap into the internal recess in the front of shift rod.

Emails were sent querying this and we got totally mugged off, easily done with the Atlantic in the way I guess.

Hey ho

[chrisflstf]

[Bus boy 89]

[a8ked]

I can't comment on the issues with Bus installations.
I installed one of these a month ago in my 73 standard beetle. It was VERY tight at first but has loosened up some. I have added some silicone grease to the rod where it passes thru the bushing. The note about having the split in the bushing vertical is important, I spent a lot of time trying to get it to snap in place while not vertical.
Was it worth the cost? It hopefully will outlast the original type by a long time, but the original bushings seem to last for at least several years and are cheap....