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wagohn Samba Member
Joined: June 24, 2014 Posts: 740 Location: United States
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Posted: Wed May 05, 2021 3:16 pm Post subject: Replacing Front Rod Bushing - Gearshift |
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Hello,
Our bus finds all gear relatively easily but today I noticed the front nylon bushing is missing for the gearshift. I have researched and see topics on replacing this bush and all others on the rod. Is there a way to replace the bushing for just the pictured area without removing the rod? Seems that it would be doable to fit a bushing given the space available. Any ideas?
Thanks.
_________________ 1976 VW Transporter, 2.0 FI Engine |
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cmonSTART Samba Member
Joined: July 15, 2014 Posts: 1915 Location: NH
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Posted: Wed May 05, 2021 3:31 pm Post subject: Re: Replacing Front Rod Bushing - Gearshift |
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You won't be able to cram the bushing in with the rod in place, and honestly it's so easy to do you shouldn't have to. On my 78 IIRC I just had to remove the shifter and then loosen a pinch bolt a couple feet back from there and the whole thing slides back. New bushing in and then reset everything. _________________ '78 Bus 2.0FI
de K1IGS |
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wagohn Samba Member
Joined: June 24, 2014 Posts: 740 Location: United States
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Posted: Wed May 05, 2021 3:35 pm Post subject: Re: Replacing Front Rod Bushing - Gearshift |
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cmonSTART wrote: |
You won't be able to cram the bushing in with the rod in place, and honestly it's so easy to do you shouldn't have to. On my 78 IIRC I just had to remove the shifter and then loosen a pinch bolt a couple feet back from there and the whole thing slides back. New bushing in and then reset everything. |
Thanks. I watched a Youtube of the process and the guy snapped bolts etc. I was hoping to press a soft bushing in there and be done with it. _________________ 1976 VW Transporter, 2.0 FI Engine |
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cmonSTART Samba Member
Joined: July 15, 2014 Posts: 1915 Location: NH
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Posted: Wed May 05, 2021 3:40 pm Post subject: Re: Replacing Front Rod Bushing - Gearshift |
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I tried it once - really doesn't work.
Didn't for me anyway. _________________ '78 Bus 2.0FI
de K1IGS |
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aeromech Samba Member
Joined: January 24, 2006 Posts: 16961 Location: San Diego, California
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Posted: Wed May 05, 2021 4:36 pm Post subject: Re: Replacing Front Rod Bushing - Gearshift |
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You’ll spend more time agonizing over this than it will take to do the job
1) Remove the gear shifter
2) go aft about 3 feet and remove the grub screw
3) slide the forward shift rob forward to separate from the rear rod
4) snake the forward rod away from the bus
5) install the new forward bushing and lube it
6) clean up the forward shift rod/paint
7) slide the forward shift rod up into place.
reinstall the grub screw
9) reinstall the gear shifter and adjust
10) before you do #9 clean and lube the shifter
11) adjust the gearshift per the book
You’ll find that your driving experience will be much better _________________ Lead Mechanic: San Diego Air and Space Museum
Licensed Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic
Licensed Pilot (Single engine Land)
Boeing 727,737-200-300-400,757,767
Airbus A319,320,321
DC9/MD80
BAe146
Fokker F28/F100
VW type 1 1962,63,65,69,72
VW Type 2 1971 (3 ea.) 1978, 1969
VW Jetta
VW Passat
Capable of leaping tall buildings in a single bound |
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wagohn Samba Member
Joined: June 24, 2014 Posts: 740 Location: United States
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Posted: Wed May 05, 2021 6:08 pm Post subject: Re: Replacing Front Rod Bushing - Gearshift |
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Thanks all. I will wait until I have more time cycles to redo the full process as described. _________________ 1976 VW Transporter, 2.0 FI Engine |
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Wildthings Samba Member
Joined: March 13, 2005 Posts: 50337
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Posted: Wed May 05, 2021 7:13 pm Post subject: Re: Replacing Front Rod Bushing - Gearshift |
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When I lost the front bushing on the road, I took some plastic sheet, probably just a cut up oil or antifreeze jug and wrapped it around the rod, pushed it through the hole, and held it in place with zip ties. Lasted way longer than the previous low quality bushing had. |
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wagohn Samba Member
Joined: June 24, 2014 Posts: 740 Location: United States
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Posted: Wed May 05, 2021 7:33 pm Post subject: Re: Replacing Front Rod Bushing - Gearshift |
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Wildthings wrote: |
When I lost the front bushing on the road, I took some plastic sheet, probably just a cut up oil or antifreeze jug and wrapped it around the rod, pushed it through the hole, and held it in place with zip ties. Lasted way longer than the previous low quality bushing had. |
Now we're talking. I just want a MacGyver quick fix until I get to doing the full deal. Thanks! _________________ 1976 VW Transporter, 2.0 FI Engine |
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Wildthings Samba Member
Joined: March 13, 2005 Posts: 50337
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Posted: Wed May 05, 2021 7:46 pm Post subject: Re: Replacing Front Rod Bushing - Gearshift |
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wagohn wrote: |
Wildthings wrote: |
When I lost the front bushing on the road, I took some plastic sheet, probably just a cut up oil or antifreeze jug and wrapped it around the rod, pushed it through the hole, and held it in place with zip ties. Lasted way longer than the previous low quality bushing had. |
Now we're talking. I just want a MacGyver quick fix until I get to doing the full deal. Thanks! |
I used several wraps of the plastic to get the thickness about right and it was a PITA getting the zip ties on, but I didn't have to wait days for parts to arrive. |
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rottenkid Samba Member
Joined: June 19, 2015 Posts: 236 Location: Warkworth, ontario
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Posted: Thu May 06, 2021 2:05 am Post subject: Re: Replacing Front Rod Bushing - Gearshift |
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I read one where that you can use plywood for a bushing. You attach it to the front side and the plywood should last for years. I can not find the site I viewed that on. |
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LeeE Samba Member
Joined: May 25, 2004 Posts: 389 Location: Orlando
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Posted: Thu May 06, 2021 4:59 am Post subject: Re: Replacing Front Rod Bushing - Gearshift |
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for some reason the PO of my Bus hammered and bent the metal around the bushing hole enough that a new bushing would not stay in place.
I used a short piece of thick-wall PVC pipe, same ID as the OD of the shift rod, and held it in place with a hose clamp on each side of the hole. It's been there for over 12 years, works fine. _________________ 1978 Westfalia stock 2.0 FI
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wagohn Samba Member
Joined: June 24, 2014 Posts: 740 Location: United States
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Posted: Thu May 06, 2021 7:18 am Post subject: Re: Replacing Front Rod Bushing - Gearshift |
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Thanks all. _________________ 1976 VW Transporter, 2.0 FI Engine |
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Wildthings Samba Member
Joined: March 13, 2005 Posts: 50337
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Posted: Thu May 06, 2021 9:37 am Post subject: Re: Replacing Front Rod Bushing - Gearshift |
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LeeE wrote: |
for some reason the PO of my Bus hammered and bent the metal around the bushing hole enough that a new bushing would not stay in place.
I used a short piece of thick-wall PVC pipe, same ID as the OD of the shift rod, and held it in place with a hose clamp on each side of the hole. It's been there for over 12 years, works fine. |
I had thought about doing this, glad it worked for you. A PVC electrical box adapter combined with a cut off part of a PVC coupling seems like it would make a first class bushing. |
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onehappykombi Samba Member
Joined: March 26, 2017 Posts: 150
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Posted: Fri Apr 07, 2023 2:30 pm Post subject: Re: Replacing Front Rod Bushing - Gearshift |
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aeromech wrote: |
You’ll spend more time agonizing over this than it will take to do the job
1) Remove the gear shifter
2) go aft about 3 feet and remove the grub screw
3) slide the forward shift rob forward to separate from the rear rod
4) snake the forward rod away from the bus
5) install the new forward bushing and lube it
6) clean up the forward shift rod/paint
7) slide the forward shift rod up into place.
reinstall the grub screw
9) reinstall the gear shifter and adjust
10) before you do #9 clean and lube the shifter
11) adjust the gearshift per the book
You’ll find that your driving experience will be much better |
I followed these steps on my 69 Bus and now with everything in place the shifter feels stuck and wont go into any gear
I tried the new bushing on its own and it would slide properly on the pin, but when installed in the rod it’s too stiff
Any suggestions?
Thank you! _________________ '56 Early Split & '69 Early Bay
Overlanding the USA
Camper special engine build |
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aeromech Samba Member
Joined: January 24, 2006 Posts: 16961 Location: San Diego, California
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Posted: Fri Apr 07, 2023 3:18 pm Post subject: Re: Replacing Front Rod Bushing - Gearshift |
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Of course you understand that the OP has the later style shift rod with a different bushing than yours.
So, let me ask. Did you remove the old bushing from the tip of your shift rod and then install the new bushing in its place?
Before you install and tighten the grub screw that connects the front and rear shift rods were you able to slide the forward rod forward and aft on the pin? _________________ Lead Mechanic: San Diego Air and Space Museum
Licensed Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic
Licensed Pilot (Single engine Land)
Boeing 727,737-200-300-400,757,767
Airbus A319,320,321
DC9/MD80
BAe146
Fokker F28/F100
VW type 1 1962,63,65,69,72
VW Type 2 1971 (3 ea.) 1978, 1969
VW Jetta
VW Passat
Capable of leaping tall buildings in a single bound |
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onehappykombi Samba Member
Joined: March 26, 2017 Posts: 150
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Posted: Fri Apr 07, 2023 6:08 pm Post subject: Re: Replacing Front Rod Bushing - Gearshift |
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aeromech wrote: |
Of course you understand that the OP has the later style shift rod with a different bushing than yours.
So, let me ask. Did you remove the old bushing from the tip of your shift rod and then install the new bushing in its place?
Before you install and tighten the grub screw that connects the front and rear shift rods were you able to slide the forward rod forward and aft on the pin? |
Yes I know its a different rod but I didn’t want to create a new thread
Yes I removed the old bushing and installed the new one in it’s place
No, I wasn’t able to move the rod forward and aft, it was very tight so I tapped the rod in with a rubber mallet to help it get in.
The un-installed bushing fit perfect but I guess it gets some crush when installed.
I though the leverage of the shifter lever would be enough to move back and forth but it’s completely stuck.
The end of the shifter lever is sitting properly in the “pipe” of the rod
Thank you as always ! _________________ '56 Early Split & '69 Early Bay
Overlanding the USA
Camper special engine build |
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aeromech Samba Member
Joined: January 24, 2006 Posts: 16961 Location: San Diego, California
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Posted: Fri Apr 07, 2023 6:12 pm Post subject: Re: Replacing Front Rod Bushing - Gearshift |
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Are you sure you installed the correct bushing? I’ve done this several times and never had a problem
https://socalautoparts.com/product/shift-rod-bushing-bus-front-of-front-shift-rod-2/ _________________ Lead Mechanic: San Diego Air and Space Museum
Licensed Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic
Licensed Pilot (Single engine Land)
Boeing 727,737-200-300-400,757,767
Airbus A319,320,321
DC9/MD80
BAe146
Fokker F28/F100
VW type 1 1962,63,65,69,72
VW Type 2 1971 (3 ea.) 1978, 1969
VW Jetta
VW Passat
Capable of leaping tall buildings in a single bound |
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airschooled Air-Schooled
Joined: April 04, 2012 Posts: 12721 Location: on a bike ride somewhere
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Posted: Fri Apr 07, 2023 6:28 pm Post subject: Re: Replacing Front Rod Bushing - Gearshift |
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On early bays, the bushing has some small “teeth” that need to clip in to ensure complete installation. Often the old bushing comes out in pieces, leaving dirt or small pieces of the old bushing behind. If you don’t get the old bushing 100% out, it could cause the new bushing to jam.
New bushings also come with some much casting flash on them, called sprue in the plastics world, that they must be trimmed/sanded down to fit inside the tube well. Even a properly made bushing still takes some force to install. I typically put the bushing on a clean smooth section of concrete, and set the rod on top. One good boo with a rubber mallet on the shift rod should set it just fine.
Robbie _________________ Learn how your vintage VW works. And why it doesn't!
One-on-one tech help for your Volkswagen:
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onehappykombi Samba Member
Joined: March 26, 2017 Posts: 150
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Posted: Fri Apr 07, 2023 6:58 pm Post subject: Re: Replacing Front Rod Bushing - Gearshift |
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airschooled wrote: |
Often the old bushing comes out in pieces, leaving dirt or small pieces of the old bushing behind. If you don’t get the old bushing 100% out, it could cause the new bushing to jam.
Robbie |
Aha! The old one broke and fell into the inside of the rod. I couldn’t get it out but assumed it was fine and stuck further in.
I will figure out how to get the new one back out and then clean the inside of the rod.
Thank you! _________________ '56 Early Split & '69 Early Bay
Overlanding the USA
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aeromech Samba Member
Joined: January 24, 2006 Posts: 16961 Location: San Diego, California
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Posted: Fri Apr 07, 2023 7:10 pm Post subject: Re: Replacing Front Rod Bushing - Gearshift |
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That will be difficult without destroying your new bushing. Might try using a drill bit to ream the hole _________________ Lead Mechanic: San Diego Air and Space Museum
Licensed Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic
Licensed Pilot (Single engine Land)
Boeing 727,737-200-300-400,757,767
Airbus A319,320,321
DC9/MD80
BAe146
Fokker F28/F100
VW type 1 1962,63,65,69,72
VW Type 2 1971 (3 ea.) 1978, 1969
VW Jetta
VW Passat
Capable of leaping tall buildings in a single bound |
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