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herbie1200 Samba Member
Joined: April 27, 2006 Posts: 832 Location: Rome - Italy
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Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2018 11:53 pm Post subject: Re: Shift rod bushing - how to? |
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Update: new bushing installed.
Lot of grease, but the movement is still hard.
The shift tube now is higher and I have to register the shift rod forwarded; if I put it in the previous position (almost vertical in neutral) the force on the tube sseems to be excessive and the movement is not free.
Any hint?
I thought that the original bushing support bracket could be bent, no more perfectly vertical, so the tube does not travel freely into it. |
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KTPhil Samba Member
Joined: April 06, 2006 Posts: 33875 Location: Conejo Valley, CA
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Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2018 8:16 am Post subject: Re: Shift rod bushing - how to? |
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herbie1200 wrote: |
Update: new bushing installed.
Lot of grease, but the movement is still hard.
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When I replaced mine, the plastic was thicker, and so the clamping ring had too strong a grip, making it hard to slide, resulting in breakage shortly after.
Before fitting the rod, place the bushing and ring on it at the position it will be in when installed. Make sure it has no play, but does not have a death grip on it. I had to loosen the ring considerably to get this setting. Then install as usual. |
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herbie1200 Samba Member
Joined: April 27, 2006 Posts: 832 Location: Rome - Italy
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Posted: Thu Aug 02, 2018 12:21 am Post subject: Re: Shift rod bushing - how to? |
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SOB!
So I could have to redo the whole work???
Before to proceed let me argumentate the question.
With new bushing I have 2 issues:
1) the rod end is too high
2) the movement is stiff
For the 1); it is normal that, respect to the position before (without bushing) the rod raise up for the bushing thickness, exactly for the thickness of plastic in the bushing throat where it fits in the anular bracket.
But in that how strong is the bushing circlip should have no influence
For the 2) the circlip can be the issue... and, as KTPhil said, I did not test it on the rod before mounting. This is a SPRING circlip so I cannot hope that a natural erasure could solve the situation because the force of the spring is the same also with a bushing worn.
I have an hypotesis: something has gone wrong during the rod insertion and the bushing has moved and do not correctly seat on its bracket. This could explain the wrong rod position and the stiffness...
this evening I will check the situation. |
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Ceckert64 Samba Member
Joined: September 16, 2015 Posts: 1931 Location: Manitowoc, WI
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Posted: Fri Aug 03, 2018 11:14 am Post subject: Re: Shift rod bushing - how to? |
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Hi, I had a question. I know the factory shift rod is supposed to have a bend, from the I've seen it's a slight bend. I took mine out to replace the bushing and it was really hard. Is my shift rod "bent" I say that as in more than it should of been from the factory. Mine is a 1964 beetle if that makes a difference thanks for the help!
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KTPhil Samba Member
Joined: April 06, 2006 Posts: 33875 Location: Conejo Valley, CA
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Posted: Fri Aug 03, 2018 11:26 am Post subject: Re: Shift rod bushing - how to? |
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I would imagine if the bend is wrong, it would bind, since it's held in three places as it is supposed to slide (rod socket, bushing, coupler). If you do remove it to do it over, I would take a photo and try to get some measurements of the bend in yours... where along its length, how much of an angle or offset... and maybe someone has one here to measure and compare.
By the way, I use a little grease all along its length to act as a rust inhibitor. Grease it, then wipe it down so it's slippery but not gooey.
Last edited by KTPhil on Fri Aug 03, 2018 11:50 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Ceckert64 Samba Member
Joined: September 16, 2015 Posts: 1931 Location: Manitowoc, WI
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Posted: Fri Aug 03, 2018 11:48 am Post subject: Re: Shift rod bushing - how to? |
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Okay, thanks! I have no put it back in yet. I will post a picture of the bend distance. |
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Ceckert64 Samba Member
Joined: September 16, 2015 Posts: 1931 Location: Manitowoc, WI
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Posted: Fri Aug 03, 2018 11:57 am Post subject: Re: Shift rod bushing - how to? |
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They are perfect measurements, since it wasn't perfectly end to end. |
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KTPhil Samba Member
Joined: April 06, 2006 Posts: 33875 Location: Conejo Valley, CA
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Posted: Fri Aug 03, 2018 12:06 pm Post subject: Re: Shift rod bushing - how to? |
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Excellent. I don't have one handy, but hopefully someone here has the right rod and can measure for you. |
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67rustavenger Samba Member
Joined: February 24, 2015 Posts: 9663 Location: Oregon
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Posted: Fri Aug 03, 2018 4:37 pm Post subject: Re: Shift rod bushing - how to? |
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I'm sure that this has been posted somewhere else in this thread.
But it's worth posting again for those that haven't read all the way through it.
I noticed in one of Ceckert64's images. He has a length of cord through the trans coupling end of his shift rod.
This cool tool makes withdrawing and installing the shift rod easy and painless.
Good Luck. _________________ I have learned over the years.
Cheap parts are gonna disappoint you.
Buy Once, Cry Once!
There's never enough time to do it right the first time. But there's always enough time to do it thrice.
GFY's Xevin and VW_Jimbo! |
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viiking Samba Member
Joined: May 10, 2013 Posts: 2666 Location: Sydney Australia
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Posted: Thu Sep 20, 2018 1:44 am Post subject: Re: Shift rod bushing - how to? |
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After reading all the trials and tribulations thus far on installing the bushing, I was a little concerned of how difficult this was going to be.
I stole the idea of the plastic pipe "pusher". I didn't really even measure it that well but sort of eyeballed an opening and cut out a section from some 1 1/2 OD plastic pipe. This provided the cradle as per the above post.
I was fortunate that I had the body off but I had painted the rod previously with KBS paint and thought that it was going to be difficult.
However not to sound like a smart-ass, it took all of 2 minutes to line up the rod and bushing and push it through. I did NOT use any grease but sprayed the tip of the rod only with WD40 Silicone Spray. I think the grease may actually increase the difficulty of pushing through the bushing. A little push only was needed and it went in so easily, I thought I had pushed the bushing out of its holder.
The only difficulty I had was trying to insert the bushing into the holder because of my large mitts. However I found a bit of silicone and the proctologist method seemed to work in the end.
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Cusser Samba Member
Joined: October 02, 2006 Posts: 31266 Location: Hot Arizona
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Posted: Thu Sep 20, 2018 5:45 am Post subject: Re: Shift rod bushing - how to? |
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viiking wrote: |
However not to sound like a smart-ass, it took all of 2 minutes to line up the rod and bushing and push it through. |
This part didn't take me long either on my 1970, using a similar length of PVC.
viiking wrote: |
I did NOT use any grease but sprayed the tip of the rod only with WD40 Silicone Spray. I think the grease may actually increase the difficulty of pushing through the bushing. A little push only was needed and it went in so easily, I thought I had pushed the bushing out of its holder. |
Good. But I'd now grease the rod. _________________ 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 |
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viiking Samba Member
Joined: May 10, 2013 Posts: 2666 Location: Sydney Australia
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Posted: Thu Sep 20, 2018 1:37 pm Post subject: Re: Shift rod bushing - how to? |
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Yes. Once I installed the rod, I did withdraw it and used some grease to grease the end of the shift rod where the wear through the bushing would be evident.
I have read the previous posts where people grease the whole rod liberally to prevent rusting and also provide lubrication. I think that is just a dirt and dust magnet, hence why I initially painted the whole thing with the KBS anti rust paint.
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&Dan Samba Member
Joined: January 29, 2008 Posts: 1784
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Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2018 10:24 am Post subject: Glad that's done...f*cker better downshift to 2nd |
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X1,000 on the PVC pusher pal. Also, shine that shift rod up like a new bumper, even take a moment to give it a coat of wax which will make it slippery but not pick up scuzz from inside the tunnel: I was pleasantly surprised how easily the thing pushed through, pausing a couple times to make certain the bushing had not popped out. Slicker'n snot on a doorknob.
FWIW, WW-brand bushing. |
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herbie1200 Samba Member
Joined: April 27, 2006 Posts: 832 Location: Rome - Italy
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Posted: Thu Nov 22, 2018 2:06 am Post subject: Re: Shift rod bushing - how to? |
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viiking wrote: |
Yes. Once I installed the rod, I did withdraw it and used some grease to grease the end of the shift rod where the wear through the bushing would be evident.
I have read the previous posts where people grease the whole rod liberally to prevent rusting and also provide lubrication. I think that is just a dirt and dust magnet, hence why I initially painted the whole thing with the KBS anti rust paint.
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If the rod is inserted without lubrication, or painted, I think this cause a serious worning of the bushing, like sandpaper.
So, after all the work, the new bushing is already worn. |
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a.marscapone Samba Member
Joined: May 08, 2017 Posts: 107 Location: The Quiet Corner, CT
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Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2019 9:19 am Post subject: Re: Shift rod bushing - how to? |
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Took on the bushing replacement. Success! Thank you all for giving me the courage to take this on.
A few thoughts:
- Read this entire forum for ideas, instructions and inspiration
- Have someone handy to help push or pull the rod through (removal and installation)
- Remove the passenger seat for easy access. I removed the driver’s and kept hitting my head on the steering wheel
- I used twine to guide/pull the rod back in and to keep access to the new bushing in case it fell. Tie it to the transmission end before pulling it out. Cut it at the shifter location, thread the bushing and knot the twine after
Shifts like new now. I was hoping it would help with the grinding when downshifting from 3rd to 2nd, but alas, that is a project for another time.
Historical side note
Back in the day, I knew nothing about this, had not yet purchased my John Muir book, and the internet was science fiction... The shifter rod in my first 67 fell out of the broken bracket and was dead in the bottom of the tunnel. I used a wire hanger (sorry Joan) to scoop the shifter rod up, and thought “now what?” So with the rod looped in, I bent and braced hanger on both sides of the outside of the tunnel, installed the shifter, and drove that way for the rest of the life of the car. Not a long-term recommendation[-X
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Nevohteeb Samba Member
Joined: July 10, 2016 Posts: 30 Location: France
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Posted: Mon Sep 16, 2019 12:04 pm Post subject: Re: Shift rod bushing - how to? |
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Hi everyone,
I have a question about the shift gear that can sound totally stupid.
Actually, I am restoring a 1965 bug that I haven't had the possibility to ride yet.
I noticed that the shifting gear does not go automatically back into the middle (neutral) position while passing from 2nd to 3rd. I am looking for the reason for that, so here is my "stupid" question : is this the role of the spring located between the stop plate and the ball housing ? |
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EVfun Samba Member
Joined: April 01, 2012 Posts: 5445 Location: Seattle
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Posted: Mon Sep 16, 2019 3:03 pm Post subject: Re: Shift rod bushing - how to? |
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The old Bug shifter does not return to neutral or toward either gate when in neutral. The spring under the top cover holds the half ball up into the cover so it works as a piviot for shifting in gears 1-4. It, plus the plate under the spring work together to provide the reverse lockout function. _________________
Wildthings wrote: |
As a general rule, cheap parts are the most expensive parts you can buy. |
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Nevohteeb Samba Member
Joined: July 10, 2016 Posts: 30 Location: France
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Posted: Mon Sep 16, 2019 9:45 pm Post subject: Re: Shift rod bushing - how to? |
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Hello EVfun,
thank you for the reply.
EVfun wrote: |
The old Bug shifter does not return to neutral or toward either gate when in neutral. |
I did not know that, which is why I mentioned "stupid question" in my topic.
It's good to know.
Thank you again. |
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FL-Frank Samba Member
Joined: August 08, 2015 Posts: 823 Location: Jupiter, Florida
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Posted: Tue Dec 10, 2019 9:57 am Post subject: Re: Shift rod bushing - how to? |
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I’m preparing to tackle replacing the bushing and coupler in my ‘67 Beetle. I’ve looked on VW’s online parts website, however, the bushing, clip, and coupler all come up as no longer available from VW.
Who currently sells the best quality bushings and couplers? _________________ “Tinker Toy” 1967 Savannah Beige Beetle Sedan...........Mostly Original Survivor
“Fritz” 1964 Gulf Blue Karmann Ghia Coupe...Complete Pan-Off Restoration SOLD |
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SBD Samba Member
Joined: October 24, 2012 Posts: 3269 Location: SOUTH DAKOTA
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Posted: Tue Dec 10, 2019 10:44 am Post subject: Re: Shift rod bushing - how to? |
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The parts should be available from just about ANY aftermarket supplier of air cooled VW parts. Just guessing, CIP1, JBugs, Mid-America Motorworks, AirCooled.net, CBPerformance, to name a few. _________________ "Just $99 down and $64 a month for 36 months buys you a brand new Volkswagen Beetle!"
mark tucker wrote: |
I wouldent waste $ or thyme on building a small motor. build it big so it dosent have to work hard.remember it's only as fast as your foot alows it to be unless you build a small turd then it just stinks as it squishes up through your toes when you step on it. |
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