Sloppy!

Guys - sorry to hijack this post, but I need to have a crack at replacing my front bush (oooooerrr!!! ) and/or tinkering with the gearshift/quick shift plate and don't know where to start.
My gears are terrible! It can take me a good 5 minutes to find first sometimes, changing into second and third is hit & miss, and changing down is just goddamn scary...usually resulting in a cheer when I manage to do it!! It's so bad that its actually putting me off driving the bus and I'm thinking of selling it
Will my Haynes manual talk me through it, if I can find it??
Any help & advice gratefully received
thanks in advance
Sarah

 

Don't flog your bus. It's fixable. Have a look in Mr Haynes.

 

Looks like a nice bus so don't trade it in! Easy enough to fix and yes, the Haynes should help, its not all lies.

Shame you're up in Chesterfield, otherwise I'd come and have a go at fixing your front bush for you and see if I could make it easier to get in.

First gear that is.

 

Lol! Yeah, the problem does actually seem to be that I'm in chesterfield - VW mechanics are sparse around here!! It's taken me 3 months to find someone to fix my slidey door

 

...do I just need this bit?? http://m.justkampers.com/vw-t2-bay-...front-shift-rod-bush-for-vw-t2-1966-1974.html
And some grease?

 

What you need depends on what's worn. You need to get under and have a look while someone waggles the stick.
Maybe it just needs adjustment, maybe the front bush and/or rear coupler need replacement, maybe the front shift rod cup slot and shift lever pin are worn and maybe the ball just inside the gearbox is worn or broken. Or maybe any combination of the above. Obviously try all the first lot before you look in the gearbox as the gearbox and engine will need removing.

 

re changing bush etc , have you checked out the great "how to" (change the bush) by Diddyman ? should you decide to pull engine (only 4 bolts !) to do a change the how to is deffo worth a look at.best wishes( empi shifters are fab ,in case you were wondering....)

 

Will check out the 'how to' - thanks.
Not sure I will know what I'm looking for when I'm under the bus, but I will try. I'd like to think I don't have to spend the 2 hour journey to Santa Pod at the end of the month in a constant state of nervousness

 

if u flick over too "rob and daves voltswagen pages " site they do quite a lot re same ,and pictures too ! wow!<disclaimer ; I have not checked/looked at pics.

 

Take your front belly pan off, get under the bus, and all will be revealed . It's not complicated.

 

Errrrrrr.....d'ya reckon this has got owt to do with the problem!!!!!!

 

That's a good start!

 

It's great to find something like that, you might not need to do anything else.

 

I'm figuring the numpty who sold it to me must have put the quick shift plate on to hold that bit together! No way it's got like that in the time I've had it with the amount of mileage I've done in it!!!!! Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

 

it pays to be gentle n take it slow with a gear stick

 

Nice find, but while you're under the van check the rear coupling near the gearbox, and also the front bush in the chassis crossmember. Also make sure the slot in the shifter "cup" at the front isn't worn. If you fix all of these, your gearshift will be much nicer

PS Change your gearbox oil as well...

 

I agree , i bought one , one of the first items i bought for the van and the best £4.35 ive spent , as andy says it transforms the gear change almost to a car standard, and very good quality to boot