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ballenuk Samba Member
Joined: June 24, 2019 Posts: 9 Location: Canada
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Posted: Mon Jun 24, 2019 7:38 am Post subject: Can't get into reverse! |
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Hi everyone,
Hopefully not a silly question: The company I work for has recently purchased a VW Camper van and I'm the one responsible for getting it working properly (long story!).
In short, I'm familiar with older/classic vehicles (I drive a '74 Mercedes) but I've never had any experience of VWs. The camper we have is a '72 Bus. It's in fairly decent shape, and will be even more so by the time it's had all the surgery it needs. However, I can't get the darn thing into reverse.
I'm hoping it's not a serious issue. Unless I'm very much mistaken, reverse is below 5th gear, and you need to push down on the gearknob before heading into that direction. Correct?
Every time I try to get reverse I end up getting (I assume) 4th gear instead. To be fair, the shifting is far from on-point on this van...
Any suggestions? Am I missing something really obvious? Thanks! |
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sjbartnik Samba Member
Joined: September 01, 2011 Posts: 5995 Location: Brooklyn
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Posted: Mon Jun 24, 2019 7:54 am Post subject: Re: Can't get into reverse! |
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There is no 5th gear in a VW Bus, it’s a 4-speed.
To engage reverse you push down on the top of the shifter, then, while holding it down, move the lever full left, then to the rear.
If you DO have five forward gears, then you have some non-stock transmission in there and you will need to find out what it is. _________________ 1965 Volkswagen 1500 Variant S
2000 Kawasaki W650 |
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Wasted youth Samba Member
Joined: July 06, 2012 Posts: 5134 Location: California's Hot and Smoggy Central Valley
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Posted: Mon Jun 24, 2019 8:13 am Post subject: Re: Can't get into reverse! |
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Greetings! You came to right place. The Samba Technical Archives has a wealth of free information. Look at the top right pull down menu of this webpage. See the Tab marked Technical? Hover over that. Now it opens up another menu with the words Owner's Manuals. Surf that, and you will find a scanned-in 1972 Type 2 Owner's Manual.
I clicked on the page within there that should help you right:
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/manuals/72bus/72II-36.jpg |
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danfromsyr Samba Member
Joined: March 01, 2004 Posts: 15144 Location: Syracuse, NY
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Posted: Mon Jun 24, 2019 8:18 am Post subject: Re: Can't get into reverse! |
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ballenuk wrote: |
Hi everyone,
Hopefully not a silly question: The company I work for has recently purchased a VW Camper van and I'm the one responsible for getting it working properly (long story!).
In short, I'm familiar with older/classic vehicles (I drive a '74 Mercedes) but I've never had any experience of VWs. The camper we have is a '72 Bus. It's in fairly decent shape, and will be even more so by the time it's had all the surgery it needs. However, I can't get the darn thing into reverse.
I'm hoping it's not a serious issue. Unless I'm very much mistaken, reverse is below 5th gear, and you need to push down on the gearknob before heading into that direction. Correct?
Every time I try to get reverse I end up getting (I assume) 4th gear instead. To be fair, the shifting is far from on-point on this van...
Any suggestions? Am I missing something really obvious? Thanks! |
_________________
Abscate wrote: |
These are the reasons we have words like “wanker” |
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ballenuk Samba Member
Joined: June 24, 2019 Posts: 9 Location: Canada
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Posted: Mon Jun 24, 2019 9:47 am Post subject: Re: Can't get into reverse! |
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You guys are amazing. Mystery solved!
Here is the problem:
Causing great confusion...! I just tested it and sure enough, reverse engages immediately |
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alman72 Samba Member
Joined: October 09, 2014 Posts: 2573 Location: MICHIGAN
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Posted: Mon Jun 24, 2019 9:50 am Post subject: Re: Can't get into reverse! |
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that pic is the only thing that could have redeemed you. When I read 5th gear I wondered what we were dealing with. |
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Clementine79 Samba Member
Joined: May 14, 2019 Posts: 320 Location: WA
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Posted: Mon Jun 24, 2019 9:51 am Post subject: Re: Can't get into reverse! |
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That is great! They must have just had a knob laying around, good way to confuse shops too when you have to get tires changed.
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ballenuk Samba Member
Joined: June 24, 2019 Posts: 9 Location: Canada
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Posted: Mon Jun 24, 2019 9:53 am Post subject: Re: Can't get into reverse! |
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Haha yes, I think the photo was essential to dig myself out of a hole
Got to find a suitable replacement now to avoid any more confusion! |
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alman72 Samba Member
Joined: October 09, 2014 Posts: 2573 Location: MICHIGAN
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Posted: Mon Jun 24, 2019 9:53 am Post subject: Re: Can't get into reverse! |
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can someone get this guy the noob data dump? bears are optional. I worry about the oil strainer bolt snapping off and ruining the case
edit -if he has a US model with the flat 4 pancake |
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oshima Samba Member
Joined: December 12, 2011 Posts: 112 Location: Knoxville, TN
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Posted: Mon Jun 24, 2019 9:58 am Post subject: Re: Can't get into reverse! |
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Hmm, I'm going to get one of these shifter knobs immediately. Excellent anti-theft device! _________________ 1978 2.0L Fuel Injected |
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Wasted youth Samba Member
Joined: July 06, 2012 Posts: 5134 Location: California's Hot and Smoggy Central Valley
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Posted: Mon Jun 24, 2019 10:16 am Post subject: Re: Can't get into reverse! |
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oshima wrote: |
Hmm, I'm going to get one of these shifter knobs immediately. Excellent anti-theft device! |
Totally! Ha! |
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KentABQ Samba Member
Joined: September 11, 2016 Posts: 2406 Location: Albuquerque NM
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Posted: Mon Jun 24, 2019 10:23 am Post subject: Re: Can't get into reverse! |
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Excellent advice from TCash...
Tcash wrote: |
Here is some 72 info
Welcome to TheSamba, Bay Window Bus Forum!
1972 NEWBIE
1972 Bay one year only list
The '72 only photos thread
wrote: |
Every Type IV engine owner should know this!!!
If you over tighten the Oil Strainer bolt, you will brake the engine case!
There is a Oil strainer in there.
TORQUE THE STRAINER BOLT TO NO MORE THAN 9 FT. LBS. |
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_________________ -Kent-
1976 Riviera, 1.8l FI chrome yellow VAN - "Chloe"
"I must say, how can you be in a bad mood driving this vehicle full of vibrant color.
Cars of today are so bland in comparison. It's like driving a celebration!" ---WildIdea
Bus ownership via emoticons:
---williamM |
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danfromsyr Samba Member
Joined: March 01, 2004 Posts: 15144 Location: Syracuse, NY
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Posted: Mon Jun 24, 2019 11:48 am Post subject: Re: Can't get into reverse! |
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_________________
Abscate wrote: |
These are the reasons we have words like “wanker” |
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sjbartnik Samba Member
Joined: September 01, 2011 Posts: 5995 Location: Brooklyn
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Posted: Mon Jun 24, 2019 11:53 am Post subject: Re: Can't get into reverse! |
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That's funny
Looks like a shift knob out of a '90s Nissan. _________________ 1965 Volkswagen 1500 Variant S
2000 Kawasaki W650
Last edited by sjbartnik on Mon Jun 24, 2019 3:51 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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airschooled Air-Schooled
Joined: April 04, 2012 Posts: 12721 Location: on a bike ride somewhere
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Posted: Mon Jun 24, 2019 12:21 pm Post subject: Re: Can't get into reverse! |
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Notice the "H" pattern of the forward gears. Shifting diagonally from 2-3 or 3-2 is a great way to shorten the lifespan of your expensive transaxle.
See you on the road,
Robbie _________________ Learn how your vintage VW works. And why it doesn't!
One-on-one tech help for your Volkswagen:
www.airschooled.com |
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SGKent Samba Member
Joined: October 30, 2007 Posts: 41031 Location: Citrus Heights CA (Near Sacramento)
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Posted: Mon Jun 24, 2019 12:22 pm Post subject: Re: Can't get into reverse! |
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pay close attention to that 9 ft lbs on the oil strainer nut. Consequences of going higher can be a trashed engine block. Do not hand tighten. You don't even need to pull that strainer unless you want to inspect the screen. _________________ “Most people don’t know what they’re doing, and a lot of them are really good at it.” - George Carlin |
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alman72 Samba Member
Joined: October 09, 2014 Posts: 2573 Location: MICHIGAN
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Posted: Mon Jun 24, 2019 2:08 pm Post subject: Re: Can't get into reverse! |
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SGKent wrote: |
pay close attention to that 9 ft lbs on the oil strainer nut. Consequences of going higher can be a trashed engine block. Do not hand tighten. You don't even need to pull that strainer unless you want to inspect the screen. |
yes. yes. yes.
also, don't feel bad at all. The correct shift pattern on the knob, and printed on the dash/ashtray, and some folks still ham-hand it over to the upper right. |
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Abscate Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2014 Posts: 22648 Location: NYC/Upstate/ROW
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Posted: Mon Jun 24, 2019 3:09 pm Post subject: Re: Can't get into reverse! |
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They are not optional, and when the boss ask why you have a 45k req for car repair you can tell her/ him you researched it o;the internet
[youtube]https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=snckhUVo8XU[/youtube] _________________ .ssS! |
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Abscate Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2014 Posts: 22648 Location: NYC/Upstate/ROW
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Posted: Mon Jun 24, 2019 3:15 pm Post subject: Re: Can't get into reverse! |
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sjbartnik wrote: |
That's funny |
If your Bus came with the rare 5 speed, that knob is all you need to upgrade,
You might have to enable it i the Can Bus software _________________ .ssS! |
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cmonSTART Samba Member
Joined: July 15, 2014 Posts: 1915 Location: NH
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Posted: Mon Jun 24, 2019 4:57 pm Post subject: Re: Can't get into reverse! |
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That is great! Funniest thing I've seen all day! _________________ '78 Bus 2.0FI
de K1IGS |
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