gear linkage info and checks

dog · Dec 30, 2011

a great little guide by sven!

Every supplier quotes a different part for a different bus, and mostly the wrong one

I'll try and help you find out what you need:

LATE BAY: (i can't confirm that prototypes have the same bushings as "earlier" late bays)

1972 - 1974 Buses need these 3 bushings:

211 711 197 (goes on the front just below the gear stick)

211 711 179 (goes in the middle of the bus lenth - front part of the rear linkage shaft)

211 711 185 B (goes on the back part of the rear linkage shaft - requires taking out the transmission)

1975 - 1976 Buses need these 3 bushings:

211 711 182 (goes on the front just below the gear stick)

211 711 179 (goes in the middle of the bus lenth - front part of the rear linkage shaft)

211 711 185 B (goes on the back part of the rear linkage shaft - requires taking out the transmission)

1977 - 1979 Buses need these 4 bushings:

211 711 182 (goes on the front just below the gear stick)

211 711 179 (goes in the middle of the bus lenth - front part of the rear linkage shaft)

211 711 185 B (goes on the back part of the rear linkage shaft - requires taking out the transmission)

211 711 185 B (same as above, there are two of the same)

Remember that the production year for Volkswagen starts 1st of August, so if your bus is manufactured in September 1974, that is actually a 1975 model bus!
(I don't take responsibility of exchanged bus parts, eventual exceptions in the production years or targeted market differences, as I only work on German and Yugoslavian market VW's - check first with your bus if possible, but in my experience, these are the parts that you need.

If changing bushes, also check your coupling in the back. this and the front-most bushing are usually responsible for the majority of floppiness in your stick. ;D bug's & buses of all age use the same part, but watch for quality, they break.

ADVANCED:

If your stick floppiness persists ;D you can check some other things...

dismantle the gear stick and linkage to the shaft, take the front part of the shaft off and check for wear

A broken shift plate is common, but you'll notice that yourself.

the gear stick is basically a ball sitting in a slot... the ball has a spring loaded pin on the side (don't loose it) which holds tension in the slot. this spring can often get stuck, resulting in yet an even floppier stick

take the pin and spring out, and stick your stick into the slot there should be minimal clearance between the ball and the slot walls, and you will see a difference in clearance on different depths (usually less on the bottom part as that's only used for reverse)

If there is clearance so you can rattle the stick inside the slot, there is too much wear.

I fixed this by cutting out the slot off the shaft, and welding on another one.

Remember to put the spring and pin back and grease everything.

Now pay attention to the ring around the stick that lays and slides on the shift plate. (first picture) it has a flat spot where it touches the plate. This used to be round and its quite easy to fix, just weld some material on it, and grind it down to make it round again.

If all these parts are not worn, you have new bushings, all you need to do is adjust the shift plate (can take time to do right)

After that your stick will still be floppy, as that's just the way VW made it, but at least you know it's as good as it gets without a gene berg.
Click to expand...

Beakey · Dec 30, 2011

Cool dude...good guide 8)

Mine is like stirring psychedelic soup, even with new bushes, but it works and it's happy.

Honky · Jan 16, 2012

Great guide.

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gear linkage info and checks

dog Tea Boy

Beakey

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gear linkage info and checks

dog Tea Boy

Beakey

Honky Administrator

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