Trans stuck in gear or not...?

[bugger-off]

At the risk of getting in trouble with the mods, I decided to start a new thread since my symptoms have changed...

I got both rear drums off which were completely stuck. I don't have a torquemeister and broke one of my 15" breaker bars trying to get one of the axle nuts off. Anyway, the rear shoes were dragging so bad that I couldn't manually turn the drums. After I pulled them, both axles now turn without a problem. Originally, I thought I was stuck in gear for sure.

The output shaft that the pressure plate rides on turns freely as does both axles like I mentioned. This leads me to believe that it is not stuck in gear.

BUT, the end of the hockey stick that connects to the shifter coupling really has no play to speak of; maybe moves back and forth by 1/4" or 3/8". When I connect the shifter back up it still doesn't move any more and the shifter stays in the neutral position. Since there is no clutch pack, shouldn't I be able to go through the gear pattern with the shifter? Would the rear wheels turn freely if it was stuck in gear?

Does it sound like the hockey stick is jammed? I have a bad feeling that the trans needs to come out which will really suck with swing axles. I know at the very least that the nose cone will need to come off.

Input greatly appreciated. Transmissions are NOT my forte.

[bugger-off]

Update: If I turn the splined shaft in the bell housing, the rear wheels don’t turn. If I turn one of the wheels, the shaft turns. Not sure if this is normal?

I took out the trans fill plug and moved the thingamajig forward with a screwdriver. I’ve seen mixed results with this method. It didn’t do anything to free up the shaft end (at the coupling under the back seat). Nose cone off next?

Ideas? Please!

[omegared]

Was the transmission recently replaced?
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Volkswagens don't like trees, make all necessary efforts to keep your VW from meeting one.

1966 Bus
1976 Bus
1971 Standard Beetle

[bugger-off]

No. My clutch pack was shot and it wouldn't shift at all. Dropped the engine so I could replace all of that business and found it wouldn't shift even with the engine out.

[VW_Jimbo]

Get the nose cone off. Need to see the shift forks. Betting 2 of them are engaged into gear.
_________________
Jimbo

There is never enough time to do it right the first time, but all the time necessary the second time!

[bugger-off]