Lost shifting,first and second gears, manual trans 1988 Vanagon.

[rguzz]

Recently I was in the front shifter box, replaced the linkage bits there. Have had hard shifting in to fourth gear for a while. Today can't get the shift level far enough to the left to get first or second, feels like the lever is striking the side of the box. Reverse, third and fourth as previous. Haven't investigated but thought I'd ask ahead of time, anything obvious to think about, Thanks!

[campism]

Where in Virginia are you? The only time I was in the shifter box the shifting was unchanged from before to after, but lately it's been reluctant going into first even after a change to full synthetic gear lube.
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'87 Westy in Wolfram Grey Metallic, tragically crushed by a falling hickory tree in my own driveway and now gone, leaving me Vanagonless and with no plans to replace it, alas.

[pbrown]

Lift the rubber shift boot inside the van. There are two 10mm nuts holding the shifter in place. Loosen those nuts slightly and tap that oval metal bracket left slightly. Tighten the nuts and test. Keep going until 1st and 2nd are restored.

I'm assuming that the plastic tabs are not warn down or missing on the front shift rod. Check those. Replace those first if missing.
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Patrick Brown

1986 Westy Syncro EJ25
Flickr --> https://flic.kr/s/aHsmQNUXEF

[rguzz]

Replaced the plastic tabs a few months back. I will rotate the oval plate back to the left next. I do believe i rotated it rightward last time I was in there. I'm in Roanoke, VA, to answer the other question. Thanks!

[MarkWard]

This comes up all the time. It’s such an easy thing to adjust, but it seems first timers have the hardest time understanding it and adjusting it. If you search “shift” in the subject only lots of good threads.

To summarize, it should take no side movement to select 3 or 4 from neutral. It’s is a push forward and a pull rearwards.

1 and 2 shift require a pull towards your leg. When you pull towards your leg, the shifter tab rides along the reverse lock out plate.

There is minimal adjustment at the base. I would suggest you have someone shift while you watch from below. Call out the gear you want and have the person attempt to shift it.

From below in neutral at rest. The l/s tab should be just off the l/s side of the box. If not, you adjust it at the splined section.

Once you figure it out, you’ll be amazed how simple this is to get right. The manual is confusing and covers 3 versions of shift assemblies.

[hardway]

You can adjust the shifter by moving the front fulcrum point but you are then adding an additional variable. If your van has the alignment holes, the manual says to center the shift lever bearing by aligning the alignment holes or rotating the assembly to the stop (34. in the Bentley book. Then perform the adjustment from under the vehicle where the front splined rod meets the universal joint that joins the front and rear rods. That joint can be moved fore and aft but usually needs to rotated.

When the bushings are in good shape the shift pattern is a square H pattern. The more play in the linkage the pattern becomes more trapezoidal. Also the joint wants to fall back into the splines but sometimes you have to put it in-between the previous spline positions to dial it in. Where the rear shift rod support is bolted to the transaxle affects the pattern. There is slop in the mounting bracket holes. I usually push it up and out before tightening the bolts so that I have a fixed reference point during future work

[IdahoDoug]

Just some input on Hardway's comment. Do NOT mess with the splined center joint on the shift rod that comes from the trans clear to the front. Repeat. Do not touch that as a first step or as a sorting step. Make other adjustments first if that has not been touched. That should not need adjustment for the life of the vehicle.

Also, it's always a good idea to post what year, engine, trans and country we are talking about here.
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1987 2WD Wolfsburg Vanagon Weekender "Mango", two fully locked 80 Series LandCruisers. 2017 Subaru Outback boxer. 1990 Audi 90 Quattro 20V with rear locking differential, 1990 burgundy parts Vanagon. 1984 Porsche 944, 1993 Toyota LandCruiser, 2002 BMW 325iX, 1982 Toyota Sunrader

[MarkWard]

[4Gears4Tires]

Is that still neutral for Syncros?
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'87 Syncro Ferric Oxyhydroxide Superleggera Edition
'85 Westy Sciuridae Domus Edition

[MarkWard]

[rguzz]

Solved, I think! With 2 people adjustments aren't too bad, as a number of you pointed out. It appears the shift rods loosened at the u joint coupling, this was not tight for some reason, that's our premise anyway. Got to have one!
We basically started at the beginning, fashioned a couple of wood blocks, and centered the shift lever vertical at the transmission and 23mm in the box as is well outlined in various references. First and second reappeared immediately. The oval plate under the shift boot was moved left. Thanks for all suggestions, hugely helpful.