I have an empi trigger gear stick that doesn't look particularly good, the trigger for reverse doesn't actually work, and I can't select first gear when the handbrake is on, so because of this I would like to change back to a standard gear stick (so I can use an extender and get into first gear with the handbrake on), could anyone give a rough guide of how hard this is? Thanks
Out of 10, its about a 2. Really easy mate. Put bus in 2nd and remove old shifter. Install new shifter in the same position. Whilst you're at it, install a quick shift plate if you have one. You may have to do some small adjustment using the 2 bolts in the floor and check you have forward and reverse gears before going out on the road!
so, if im understanding u guys ? when i got my bus , if i"d known ? ,i could have adjusted the oe gearstick , and got full on shift change ? rather than fit my empi ?(which is brilliant)> get yer oe shift stick here !
is the fouling of the handbrake a combo of excess wear in shift socket and handbrake being out of adjustment? dunno about , on my bus the socket wear , assume it is massive , but by adjusting the shoes to hold at six cliks i dont have any prob , thou when h/brake is out of 6 clik adjustment i employed the VERY quick> twist handle release> and smooth slide into 1st , (worked for me ) thou in the 7 years of ownership , no one has ever driven my bus other than me(and it was off road 4 six of those years !
As a start, adjust the handbrake cables (after adjusting the back brakes). Six clicks and it should be fully on. The lever doesn't come out much in normal operation.
I have used an empi and the standard on two different busses. I had to open out the holes on the empi to get it adjusted but It was fine after that. The hand brake shouldn't come out far enough to be a problem. On the standard setup with an extender you will get more clearance but with a down side of a lot more movement. Have you replaced the shift rod bushes?
