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77 vw bus won't shift into gear!
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timvw7476
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PostPosted: Wed Dec 09, 2015 12:44 am    Post subject: Re: 77 vw bus won't shift into gear! Reply with quote

The 091 trans is the "good" one for a vw bus.
There are a handful of reasons it would lose all gears, and most
of the answers are parts priced between $3.00(hub flange circlip)
and $45.00(cracked selector rod holder, if you can find one).
IF you are a sane bus driver who hasn't been hauling gravel out of a quarry
for the last 10 years, it's going to be a cheap fix, not a full rebuild.
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Wildthings
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PostPosted: Wed Dec 09, 2015 2:43 am    Post subject: Re: 77 vw bus won't shift into gear! Reply with quote

getmyvwontheroad! wrote:
And can anyone tell me what part the AXLES play in this? What's their purpose and what do they do? How could this prevent me from going into gear?


As mentioned the axles transfer the power from the transmission to the wheels. No the axle themselves, either the shafts or the CV joints, are not apt to fail, but the bolts that hold the CV joints to the flanges on the transmission on one end and the stub shaft on the other are very apt to fail if not tightened correctly which few are.

The failure of the CV bolts doesn't prevent the tranny from going into gear, but it prevents the tranny from being able to transfer any power to the wheels. Kind of like pedalliing a bike with the chain having slipped off the front sprocket. Pedal all you want and nothing is going to happen because no power is being transferred until the chain is put back on.
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getmyvwontheroad!
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PostPosted: Wed Dec 09, 2015 1:07 pm    Post subject: Re: 77 vw bus won't shift into gear! Reply with quote

Well I did hear a "banging" when I first broke down on the side of the road, there was a loud knocking for a while before I heard a loud bang and then I realized I wasn't accelerating anymore.
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getmyvwontheroad!
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PostPosted: Wed Dec 09, 2015 1:09 pm    Post subject: Re: 77 vw bus won't shift into gear! Reply with quote

And I checked out the How to Keep your VW Alive from the library a few months ago, guess I'll go back and grab it again ! And thanks for the axle explanation, makes sense now
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PostPosted: Wed Dec 09, 2015 6:04 pm    Post subject: Re: 77 vw bus won't shift into gear! Reply with quote

I would suggest buying an Idiot Book plus a Haynes or a Bentley from Amazon or some other sources. We are not talking much money here. I have all three plus a lot of other odd little manuals that cover specific areas better than the above.
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PostPosted: Thu Dec 10, 2015 6:45 pm    Post subject: Re: 77 vw bus won't shift into gear! Reply with quote

Yep, sounds like the bolts c.ame loose. If one side comes loose, guess what? No go! Fairly easy fix, though you may have other issues due to the axle banging about. Most likely, tranny is fine. Good time to have everything checked for tightness.
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getmyvwontheroad!
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PostPosted: Sat Dec 12, 2015 2:35 pm    Post subject: Re: 77 vw bus won't shift into gear! Reply with quote

Looks like yall saved me from spending way too much on having to buy a transmission or someone to come look at it. Here's what I found. If I am not mistaken this is a cv joint? The one on the drivers side looks busted and the passenger side looks to be in tack. Here's some pics. This is surely the problem correct? Shocked
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

the one on the passenger side is the last pic, seems fine compared to the driver side. So I guess the next step is to change it out? Is it fairly easy?
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Tcash
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PostPosted: Sat Dec 12, 2015 3:09 pm    Post subject: Re: 77 vw bus won't shift into gear! Reply with quote

Cannot tell from the pictures. But The cage looks deformed.

Block the front wheels
Put it in first gear
Jack up that wheel and put a jack stand under the frame
Try and turn the wheel
If the wheel turns but the axle (shaft) stays stationary the cv joint is stripped.
That is your problem.

Good luck
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getmyvwontheroad!
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PostPosted: Sat Dec 12, 2015 3:16 pm    Post subject: Re: 77 vw bus won't shift into gear! Reply with quote

I suppose it is bad then, the 6 ball bearings aren't there, it's really loose and I'm able to pull it almost all the way out. The bolts were on loose on the drivers side. The bolts connected to the transmission were fine though. I think I'm going to try and change it out right now. I found an old one that was taken out and seems to be good still. Is it as easy as unscrewing all 12 bolts and putting the new one on?
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PostPosted: Sat Dec 12, 2015 3:21 pm    Post subject: Re: 77 vw bus won't shift into gear! Reply with quote

CV Joint Service (Lobro)

A little more info in case you run into problems.
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=7635241#7635241

Good luck
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getmyvwontheroad!
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PostPosted: Sat Dec 12, 2015 3:54 pm    Post subject: Re: 77 vw bus won't shift into gear! Reply with quote

I have a whole other axle, would it be better if I just swapped them out?

And are they the same size for driver and passenger side?
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PostPosted: Sat Dec 12, 2015 4:00 pm    Post subject: Re: 77 vw bus won't shift into gear! Reply with quote

Here is what I found sitting in the shed. Can I just take off the one on the drivers side and slap this one on there? This doesn't seem to be in bad condition.
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PostPosted: Sat Dec 12, 2015 4:14 pm    Post subject: Re: 77 vw bus won't shift into gear! Reply with quote

Axle are the same length on a standard trans.
It would be best to take the one from the shed aprt and clean and re-grease it.
At least grease the cv's before installing it.
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PostPosted: Sat Dec 12, 2015 7:06 pm    Post subject: Re: 77 vw bus won't shift into gear! Reply with quote

It looks like your one CV pulled apart. Is your bus raised above the stock factory height? If so you may need longer axle shafts and CV that are rated to work at steeper angles.

I would not install your spare CV without pulling it down, cleaning it fully, and checking it for excess wear. Several sites have good instructions on doing this. You may be able to even reuse the one you have now, but will have to find a replacement cage in good condition to do so. A thorough inspection of your present joint and axle would be in order no matter what.

The bolts for the CV joints need to be super tight in order to not give problems. I really recommend using the Vanagon torque spec of 33 ft*lbs as VW didn't raised the torque on almost identical parts when they build the Vanagon just for jollies, they recognized there was a problem with the bolts coming loose on Bay buses and fixed the problem by raising the torque spec.
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getmyvwontheroad!
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PostPosted: Sat Dec 12, 2015 11:42 pm    Post subject: Re: 77 vw bus won't shift into gear! Reply with quote

So I got it on and it's running again. I cleaned them up and added grease as well. Also tightened them real good. So with that fixed, does anyone know what could be causing my vw bus to die out!? It'll start up and drive, but sometimes if I'm at a stop sign or start to slow down (lower than 10 mph) it'll feel like it wants to die out. To keep it running I have to push the gas or pump pedal sometimes!? Any ideas? It started to do this like 3 weeks ago, but ran great before that.
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PostPosted: Sun Dec 13, 2015 11:08 am    Post subject: Tune up Reply with quote

To link to this thread
Code:
[url=http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=7916690#7916690]Tune up[/url]


Every diagnoses should start with a basic Tune up.

Fuel Filter -
Replace the fuel filter.
When you pull the hose off the filter, gas should flow freely. If it does not the gas tank is plugged.

Valve adjustment -
Solid Lifters
Intake & Exhaust 0.15mm (.006")
Note: sodium Exh. valves 0.20mm (.008")
Vintage VW Training Film - Valve Adjustments Part 1 - YouTube
Vintage VW Training Film - Valve Adjustments Part 2 - YouTube
▶ Classic VW Beetle BuGs How to Adjust your Valves PT.1 tip Vallone - YouTube
▶ Classic VW Beetle BuGs How to Adjust your Valves PT2 Resto Tip - YouTube
Hydraulic Lifters
1-1/2 turns past (0) lash
thanks to mayor ratwell http://www.ratwell.com/technical/HydraulicLifters.html
Lifters Hydraulic or Solid ?

Plugs -
Spark plug gap
Carbureted 0.60mm (.024)
Fuel Injected 0.70mm (.028)
How to remove and replace the spark plugs in your VW
How to clean a spark Plug

Lube distributor -Lubing the Distributor

Points -
Gap 0.40mm (.016")
Dwell 44*-50*
How to replace or adjust the points and condenser on your VW

Timing -
28* BTDC at 3500rpm hoses off
Timing
Vintage VW Training Film - Ignition Timing Part 1
Vintage VW Training Film - Ignition Timing Part 2
Vintage VW Training Film - Ignition Timing II


Last edited by Tcash on Wed Jul 26, 2017 9:26 am; edited 5 times in total
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getmyvwontheroad!
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PostPosted: Sun Dec 13, 2015 12:01 pm    Post subject: Re: 77 vw bus won't shift into gear! Reply with quote

Thanks for the reply, so I changed the spark plus about a month ago and I'm assuming they're still "good" , the thing I haven't messed with is the distributor or timing. I'm not sure how exactly I would set the timing on my 77 vw bus (fuel injected). And what does setting the timing do?
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Tom Powell
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PostPosted: Sun Dec 13, 2015 2:06 pm    Post subject: Re: 77 vw bus won't shift into gear! Reply with quote

getmyvwontheroad! wrote:
So I got it on and it's running again. I cleaned them up and added grease as well. Also tightened them real good. ...


Did you use CV grease? Did you use new retaining bolts, the correct new washers, and torque them to the correct VW specs?

It appears the axle and CV joints you took off was a replacement. The flange on the boot cover doesn't look OG. It is also missing the moon plates.
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.



The axle that you found in the shed appears to be OG, but some of the balls don't look shiny. This CV might have had problems, hence the replacement.
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.



The shed axle has the moon plates and you will need to use them and new retaining bolts and the correct new washers on any installation. Is there a torn boot on the shed axle?
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.



Your failure on the road was very possibly due to the incorrect replacement of the CV joint or boot. i.e. old or wrong washers, old bolts, no moon plates, incorrect torque. Doing it wrong again will result in another failure.

I would suggest a lot more book reading and searching on TheSamba to learn about care and maintenance for your VW and/or professional or VW experienced help and guidance.

Aloha
tp


Last edited by Tom Powell on Sun Dec 13, 2015 2:59 pm; edited 2 times in total
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Wildthings
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PostPosted: Sun Dec 13, 2015 2:07 pm    Post subject: Re: 77 vw bus won't shift into gear! Reply with quote

getmyvwontheroad! wrote:
Thanks for the reply, so I changed the spark plus about a month ago and I'm assuming they're still "good" , the thing I haven't messed with is the distributor or timing. I'm not sure how exactly I would set the timing on my 77 vw bus (fuel injected). And what does setting the timing do?


The timing is set by loosening locking clap and rotating the distributor. You want to set your timing a full mechanical advance verses by the books spec, as the book spec assumes that everything works as well today as when it left the factory, which can be quite the assumption. What you want to see is 28-30* BTDC @ 3500+ rpms.

You will need a timing light to set your timing and if you buy a new one it will come with instructions on how to hook it up. More info can be found on Ratwell.com or by searching here on Samba, Busdaddy has a pretty good write up on how to go about it.
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PostPosted: Sun Dec 13, 2015 2:17 pm    Post subject: Re: 77 vw bus won't shift into gear! Reply with quote

The text in Blue in my previous post are links. Click on them.
Good luck
Tcash
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