Handbrake and first gear -Hill start!!!!!!

Hi all, I have a 1979 bay and since I have had it found that the handbrake when on will not allow me to put the gearstick into first until it is virtually off and thus making it very difficult to do hill starts.
Does anyone else have this issue and if so how is it overcome.
Many thanks in advance.
Matt

 

handbrake should come out 6 clicks - any more and it needs adjusting
;D

 

worn gear linkages/joints cause the lever to go sloppy and 1st gear is against the handbrake lever

 

fit a scat then

 

Mines very similar, and needs the "rev it, take off handbrake, shove in 1st quick" technique.

Although as pointed out you should adjust the handbrake as it makes you life a lot easier.

 

also fitting new gear linkage bushes and adjuster kit makes a HUGE difference
;D

 

Fitting the gear linkage etc is this an easy job?

 

Drove my first UK bus today and it had this. Total pain. l think it must afflict RHD buses because my LHD has never had it even when the gear linkage was sloppy.

 

put it in "D" and take your foot off the footbrake.....lol

 

Yeah, true enough lol, mind i'm thick skinned....(fully prepared for this to be edit quoted with a full stop after the work thick) :-X

 

Hi ! this is my first post - so be gentle with me . . .
I had the same problem, mine was an EMPI shifter fitted by the previous owner. The solution is to take it off, put it in a vice and bend it to the right. it make s a world of difference to the drive-ability, and traffic jams half way up Glencoe become survive-able !
While you've got it off, a good idea would be to replace the (soft and useless) aluminium rivets that hold the ball block together and onto the bracket, with some decent M5 x 25 cap screws and Nylocs - ideally before the rivets fail and you end up with the gear lever in your hand. Mine did, on the roundabout by the M8/M74 junction near Glasgow ! How we laughed . . .

 

And...remove that spring that shoves the Empi stick over to one side. Makes it even easier to use.

 

forget all the aftermarket stuff either bend your stick so it misses or the handbrake nob is on the wrong way . new bushes and a bit of lube

 

All my gearchange bushes have been changed and the gate has been welded where it was worn. Easy to get into gear and nowhere near the handbrake. No need for fancy shifters, just needs to be returned to the way VW intended

s