Trans issues

[robin.richard]

I hope someone may have an idea about what's going on with my transaxle.

After arriving home from work I wanted to take the wife out for a nice ride around town now that the weather has cooled here in VA.

The bus drove fine coming home from work but on our outing it became very hard to shift into gear, seemed very stiff and very hard to get into second. No grinding as if the clutch needed adjusting, just very stiff and I heard a wine, especially while in second. If I shifted into reverse and backed up and then put it in first and drove forward everything seemed fine for a min. but then it would become stiff again while shifting into other forward gears.

I have tried to adjust the clutch, tightening and loosening, but that does not seem to help any. My fear is that the trans is going/gone especially second gear.

Are my fears correct? New transaxle in my future?

-Rich
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[pyrOman]

Right off the bat my first guess is a broken nose cone mount!?!
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[robin.richard]

PyroMan,

Would a broken nose cone mount cause the whine heard at speed?

That would be great if that's all it is. Still would need to come out but cost far less than a new trans...at least I think.

I have a spare nose cone somewhere.

Problem is, here in southern VA Hampton Roads area there are few qualified shops to work on VW and those that are, are slammed with work or cost an arm an leg to get any work done.

-Rich
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[BarryL]

What he (Pyro) said: front rubber MOUNT broke not nose cone.

Yes it will whine after that.

When it happens it makes the shift mechanism lay against the bus guts and not slide freely and transmit rotational sounds. If you are real safe about it you can lay under there and see if the mount is broken.

Block your wheels and put on the e-brake. Have someone gently try to go into 1st and reverse but only enough to slip the clutch. You should see right away if the mount is broken.

[Malokin Martin]

With modern clean manufacturing of rubber, ALL aftermarket mounts are complete garbage. They just won’t hold up as VW intended. After 3 times of in-out-in-out-in-out of worthless mounts I bought this:

https://wolfgangint.com/store/product/type-2-transaxle-stabilizer-mid-mount/

I put one on every bus I drive after that fiasco.

Now... for what it’s worth... and this is certainly not recommended... but the dude at Wolfgang said that you COULD use this as a substitute for the front mount. As in bolt that sucker on and go. No need to remove the trans.

That being said, take the time to remove the trans and install one more mount just to be sure. That, PLUS the mid mount is the right way and it will be done forever.

If it’s still giving you grief, next id check that the shift coupler is tight and then the shift plate under the gear shifter rubber boot inside the cab.

[robin.richard]

Okay, when I got home this evening I took a look at the front trans mount. Can't really tell if it is failing or not and will try some suggestions from other "bad" shifting posts, I.e. Watching the shifter while in second gear and coming off the accelerator to see if the shifter moves around. It looks to be original or at least a early VW replacement not an aftermarket mount. When I replace the rears last year they were VW.

I did notice there was a lot of lateral movement in the shift rod as it first enters the tube leading back the the trans. the shift rod seems to rest at the bottom of the tube though.

With engine off the clutch and trans shifted smooth as before.

We'll check more over the next couple of days.

Thanks.

-Rich
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Drive your bus!

[Malokin Martin]

Get it shifting right and then take a corner and see what happens. I’m with everyone else, it’s the mount.

[Who.Me?]

[robin.richard]

Who.Me?,

Correct, once the trans is out I will replace the bushings. I've know since I purchased the bus years ago the bushings needed replacing. Just never got around to pulling the trans.

The fluid level is good.

I will likely pull the engine this weekend, check the clutch and TO bearing. I will also take a closer look at the front mount. I will also buy on of those mid mounts as it seems like a good investment given the poor modern front mounts.

-Rich
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Drive your bus!

[robin.richard]

Okay, I checked it out again this evening after getting home from work. It is definitely the front mount. You can see where the rubber has torn near the bottom edge where it meets the metal bracket. I took it for a spin around the block. It Shifted fine until I shifted into second and then it began to stiffen and become hard to shift. As suggested in an older post I let off the accelerator while in second to see if the shifter jumped...it did just as described.

Now to buy a new front mount and one of those mid mounts suggested by pyroman. Any suggestion on where to buy a decent front mount? Anyone have an old stash of VW ones?

I'll post an update once it get her fixed. Thanks for all the help.

-Rich
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[robin.richard]

Sorry, that was malokin.martin that suggested adding the mid mount.

Again, thanks.

- Rich
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[easy e]

Not cheap, but www.bugcity.com has some NOS late style ones:
Late ('63-'67 w/10 mm studs): 211301265A

Early (mid '59-'62 w/8 mm studs): 111301265

Or, use the part numbers to search & buy one from wherever.
Can check Samba classifieds too.
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[galexander]

I just installed the Wolfgang mid mount set up. Very nicely done piece. I have gone through 2 front trans mounts in the past year, so I am hoping the Wolfgang mount takes the stress off that front mount.
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[pyrOman]

[robin.richard]

Okay, finally got the time to replace my front mount. I tried to use the method listed in the archives where you use a jack to spread the rear tires to get space to remove and replace the mount...could not get it to work. It was a real PITA.

I ended up removing the engine and was able to use a small crowbar to move the trans back enough to replace the mount. I also installed the suggested mid mount. Hopefully that takes care of it for good. Here are some photos of the progress. Once everything was put back together the bus seems to run and shift well.

Before I removed the engine.

Bad front mount.

Attempted the jamnut way to get the studs out but only got one. So out came the visegrips.

Mid mount being installed.

Finally installed.

Going for a longer drive in AM for final test.

Thanks for all the help.

- Rich
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Drive your bus!

[BarryL]

Great work. Where and what front mount did you find?

[robin.richard]

Since I live on the East Coast I went with Bus Depot. It arrived in a matter of days. The mount itself does not look like it will last though. Made in India and the rubber seemed a little soft.

We'll see if that middle mount works.

-Rich
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Drive your bus!

[galexander]

I also went with the front mount from Ron at The Bud Depot. I had gone thru 2 Wolfsburg West. I will say, so far so good with the front mount and the Wolfgang Mid Mount!
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enjoy the journey,
Gary
Watch us on YouTube, VW Life AND
listen in to the VW Life Good Time Hour on VDub Radio, every Tuesday!

[Braukuche]

I've run a 10mm across the flats bolt through shitty front mounts for years with no issues. It still allows the mount to do its job while keeping it from separating.
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[robin.richard]

Braukuche,

Do you have a photo? Not sure how you are running a bolt through (?) the mount and nosecone.

-Rich
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