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Paddingtonfire
Samba Member
Joined: April 05, 2021
Posts: 9
Location: London, UK
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 Posted: Sun Jun 20, 2021 11:22 am Post subject: 57 Bus Gearshift Issues |
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Afternoon All,
I did a post before about potential gearbox woes and was advised to remove the engine, transaxle and linkages. I’ve now done this to reveal any potential problems and some more questions. I’m going to work from the rear forwards…
First of all, the gearbox itself. It has a nosecone fitted which brings the first question. Is this the correct one with the bush you can see in the picture? It seems to have a lot of play fore and aft and side to side. Can anyone give guidance on this please?
When I removed the transaxle I revealed a mounting I haven’t seen before and I guess this is an earlier configuration? Looking at the mounting itself, the gearbox only had one bolt mounting it to the vehicle and gearbox. Obviously I can put this right, but looking at the top portion of the mounting looks oval not round as I would expect, and part of a copper bush showing? Thoughts anyone?
I removed the connecting bush (which is new) and then extracted the long rod with some resistance, should this be lubricated in any way?
In another photo you can see the front coupling, purchased from WW, but I couldn’t get any gears at all from it, so I made the other one with locating holes offset to allow me to get them. But all through this the gearshift has always been really vague with loads of movement in neutral and every gear, and not having to press/pull to engage reverse. Ive tried a new striker plate, with the spacer, without, all to no avail.
Is the gearshift lever worn?
So to round up, is my gearbox/transaxle the right one, is the nosecone and bush the right type for the year of the bus, is the mounting shot, and the gearshift mechanism - is there anything I can do to improve it?
I’ll take any solution. Cheers all.. can add more photos if needed.
Mike
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Who.Me? 
Samba Member
Joined: July 14, 2014
Posts: 2206
Location: UK (South)
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| Posted: Sun Jun 20, 2021 12:56 pm Post subject: Re: 57 Bus Gearshift Issues |
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| Paddingtonfire wrote: |
First of all, the gearbox itself. It has a nosecone fitted which brings the first question. Is this the correct one with the bush you can see in the picture? It seems to have a lot of play fore and aft and side to side. Can anyone give guidance on this please?
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I reckon fore and aft is fine, side to side suggests the bush is worn. They wear out. You can buy a replacements, but check that the bore of the nosecone that the bush fits in to is still round. Mine wasn't, so I had to have it reamed and a bush made.
| Paddingtonfire wrote: |
When I removed the transaxle I revealed a mounting I haven’t seen before and I guess this is an earlier configuration?
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Yes
| Paddingtonfire wrote: |
Looking at the mounting itself, the gearbox only had one bolt mounting it to the vehicle and gearbox. Obviously I can put this right, but looking at the top portion of the mounting looks oval not round as I would expect, and part of a copper bush showing? Thoughts anyone?
...
In another photo you can see the front coupling, purchased from WW, but I couldn’t get any gears at all from it, so I made the other one with locating holes offset to allow me to get them.
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You have a 'tunnel' type synchromesh gearbox. The bus originally came with a 'split case' partial synchro box (1st didn't have a synchro).
The tunnel case gearbox nosecone is different to the original split case nosecone and the torsion tube mount that the nosecone fits to is designed to take the split case type, so you have to use an adaptor. You mention the WW adaptor ('solid mount' adaptor) didn't fit. That suggests to me that the gearbox nose cone wasn't lined up correctly.
I replaced the solid mount with one of Nate's 'lollipop' adaptors. They're quieter and I found the solid mount put the nosecone too low so the shift rod was rubbing on the rearmost frame crossmember. The lollipop mount fixed that. It might fix your problem too.
VW Jim over here stocks them, but his website says he's waiting for a delivery...
https://www.vwjim.co.uk/ourshop/prod_6234733-Early-Gearbox-Adaptor-Mount-Kit.html
Either way, clean that long rod up and paint it. It looks like it has some surface rust. That will cause friction and hinder normal movement. Give it a clean and paint it to make it nice and smooth again.
| Paddingtonfire wrote: |
I removed the connecting bush (which is new) and then extracted the long rod with some resistance, should this be lubricated in any way?
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Not sure whether '57 had a tube for the long rod to fit in. Is there a tube running through all the frame crossmembers that the long rod was inside? If so there should be one or more plastic bushes in there. They may still be stuck in there and that might have caused the resistance? If so, you'll need to push them out and replace them
If '57s predated the tube (my '56 doesn't have a tube) then you should just have a single metal bush supporting the rear of the tube in the rearmost crossmember. It's like a metal hockey stick. They break with time. Evam classic stock them. I think VW Heritage have them too.
Check out OACDP for the parts manual...
http://www.oacdp.org/5867part.html
| Paddingtonfire wrote: |
In another photo you can see the front coupling, purchased from WW, but I couldn’t get any gears at all from it, so I made the other one with locating holes offset to allow me to get them.
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Check the rear coupler. Screw the locking screws in and make sure they exactly line up down the axis of the coupler. Some of the repros don't. If you've had to make a front coupler with offset holes, then you might have been compensating for that problem with the rear coupler?
Neither coupler should have offset holes. That might be part of your problem too.
| Paddingtonfire wrote: |
But all through this the gearshift has always been really vague with loads of movement in neutral and every gear, and not having to press/pull to engage reverse. Ive tried a new striker plate, with the spacer, without, all to no avail.
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Even correctly adjusted, the gear shift isn't a precision instrument, particularly with the early setup.  Reverse can be hard to get.
With the early setup, the linkages don't have many supporting bushes (VW added more over the years). I find doing maneuvers in a hurry can be difficult, shifting from 1st to reverse and back, and mine is pretty sorted.
| Paddingtonfire wrote: |
Is the gearshift lever worn?
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From your picture, I'd say the ball looks worn, yes, and the socket that the ball fits in to in the front shift rod looks pretty worn too.
_________________
Andy
Looking for info on my truck's history. Are you from Campbell California or nearby. Do you recognise it? ... http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=636786 |
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mintonman
Samba Member
Joined: October 20, 2003
Posts: 4245
Location: between Trenton NJ. & Philly Pa.
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| Posted: Sun Jun 20, 2021 7:40 pm Post subject: Re: 57 Bus Gearshift Issues |
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That shifter ball does not look rite, here's what it should look like
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Hoockd on fonicks werkt for mee?
under the influance "DUH" |
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mintonman
Samba Member
Joined: October 20, 2003
Posts: 4245
Location: between Trenton NJ. & Philly Pa.
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| Posted: Sun Jun 20, 2021 7:47 pm Post subject: Re: 57 Bus Gearshift Issues |
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I don't think the bend in the front linkage bar helps any either. Puts the cup on the end the shifter ball sits in at an angle and get rid of the shortshift spacer. Should all look like this
_________________
Hoockd on fonicks werkt for mee?
under the influance "DUH" |
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Paddingtonfire
Samba Member
Joined: April 05, 2021
Posts: 9
Location: London, UK
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| Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2021 2:04 am Post subject: Re: 57 Bus Gearshift Issues |
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Andy, what an excellent reply - thank you, it's given me a lot to go on. I've been in such with Jim for the mount and will definitely get one when they arrive.
I'll get the bush done on the nosecone, tbh I was going to anyway.
The long rod, for the sake of 50 quid that'll be changed, and replace any of the bushes at the same time as the trans is out, just easier!
I will reinstate the WW couplings at either end of the long rod - I only made the offset hole one to get be out of a hole lol...
The short linkage with the double dog leg as I call it is odd - its passage through the front (lowered) beam is somewhat congested, but I will buy a new rod all the same.
Now for the tricky bit - I cannot find, despite searching for over an hour this morning, a stock shifter for this age of bus - later ones yes, but not the earlier. Can anyone please point me in the right direction?
Or, are there alternative aftermarket ones that I can use? Any suggestions welcome, because having seen Mintonman's very helpful photos, mine looks oval and worn - help!!
I just want to make it better, because it's a pig at the moment...
Mike
57 seems a tricky time with these things, lot of changes.. |
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EverettB
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Joined: April 11, 2000
Posts: 69809
Location: Phoenix Metro
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