Can't Shift into 3rd or 4th Gear

[Sooksooka]

Ever since I bought my 1966 Beetle I haven't been able to shift into 3rd or 4th gear. I have removed the coupling and attempted at shifting the hockey stick manually. It rotates but won't move forward or backwards to engage the gears. Any ideas what I could do before pulling the engine and transmission? 1st, 2nd and reverse have been working just fine.

[meranda]

Have you checked the shifter coupling under the back seat. If you disconnect the coupling rod from the coupling you can then try to engage 3rd and 4th.

[Sooksooka]

Yes I disconnected the coupler but third and fourth still won't engage.

[glutamodo]

With the shift rod unhooked there should be no reason you can't manually select those gears. so you might have some kind of transaxle issue.

Before you said you tried that, I flashed back to personal experience. Thrice upon a time, on my 66-frame Baja, I tried a "quick shift" kit, and ran into the same problem, could not adjust to get 1/2 along with 3/4 so just gave up and removed the kit. On the third attempt I decided I would figure it out. Turns out the opening in the tunnel up front was too narrow to allow for the altered throw with the kit installed and removing a little bit of metal on the sides of that opening was all I needed to do to make it work.
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Andy T.


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I do not know how to fix this. All I can say is it all works fine for me with what I use, Firefox.

[Hotboost]

Hi Ive same problem ,bought as a project last on road was 1988.
Pulled the nose cone off , with vise grips i can get reverse 1,2.

I think i can get 3rd but not without hitting the vise grips with a rubber mallet.
Is there adjustement somewhere.