Finding it difficult to get it into 5th gear!

I find it very difficult to get in 5th gear. I have to really yank it as far right as possible and slightly press down before it goes into gear. Is this most likely linkage problem? There are no crunches or noises through out all gears. It tends to be more tricky to get fifth after I have been driving for a bit. If its linkage which is the one that causes the 5th gear to do this? Are the linkages easy to do in a small garage? Thinking I will have a go when I Sorn the car after a month. The car is a 1.8 GTI. Which is the best kit to buy? Thanks

If the bushes are worn you can feel it in the gearstick, if you put the car in gear and there is a lot of movement in the stick when it's in gear the bushes are worn. You can also grab hold of bits of the linkage and feel for play.
If you are having problems with just 5th I would guess the linkage needs adjustment, has the problem just started to happen?
I just replace the bushes with this kit.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SCIROCCO-GOLF-MK1-GTI-GEAR-LINKAGE-BUSH-KIT-C163-/200267258146?fits=Model%3AGolf&hash=item2ea0dbd922:m:mkKGQI2tTDvISm0Y7UToHNg

There is a guide this site about setting up the linkage and replacing the bushes.
You can get kits with all the linkage bushes and rods, you will need to inspect the rods for wear etc but my rods are still OK after 27 years and 270,000 miles so I have not changed them, a blob of grease on the balls which the rods fixes to helps with reducing wear, done the bushes about 4 times!

Thanks mate for the help. I had a few bushes left over from previous Mk1 as the mechanic didn't fit all of them. I have a big ball type plastic one that fits on the gear stick side I think. Would a worn one of these contribute to the problems I'm having?

Your link to the kit doesn't show that big ball like plastic bush I was on about. Its the black one in this pic.

Not ever changed the big black bush, only ever done the linkage bushes from my link.
I had a little problem finding 5th gear when I changed from a 4 speed box the a 5 speed and I found a little adjustment on the plate which the gearstick is fixed to the floor helped, there is a couple of bolts fixing it to the floor I loosened them and moved the plate a mm to the left I think… And that helped.
It was a little trial and error but after a couple of goes it helped.
If you can from underneath the car remove the plastic disc from below the gearstick rubber boot and measure the gap between the bottom of the gearstick arm and the metal stop there meant to be a set measurement but can remember it…

Found the guide in the how to section…
Step 1 shows the plate with the 2 bolts I'm talking about.
Step 47 shows the gap at 19mm between the bottom of the gearstick and metal stop plate, this is plate the gearstick hits and you have to push it down to engage reverse, stops you getting reverse instead of 1st!

You can replace everything if you wish but I've only ever done the bushes in the engine bay.

If it was me I would check the adjustment and have a little play with the plate on the gearstick then if not any better then start replacing things.
I always go for the cheapest easiest option 1 st then move on there there..  Edit.. Forgot to post the link…View topic: .GUIDE : Refurbishing your gear linkage - The Mk1 Golf Owners Club


There is a guide on the how to section about seat covers so may be helpful for your other thread about rattly seats?
 

I replaced my linkage in the summer as it was hard to get 5th and also, when pressing down to get reverse it felt like it was hitting something at the bottom of the lever! I adjusted the linkage, as shown in the how that Mark1gls posted and all seemed fine until I started have trouble finding 1st. This seemed worse once the car had warmed up but no matter what I did with the adjustment, all I seemed to be doing was solving one problem but creating another! Also, as Mark1gls said, if I put the car in gear I had a lot of movement in the gear stick. Even my Dads Morris Minor had a better gear change . I replaced all of my bushes and linkages with one of these kits:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/COMPREHENSIVE-GEAR-SHIFT-REPAIR-KIT-5-SPD-VW-GOLF-MK1-CAB-SCIROCCO-JETTA-/351829916771?fits=Model%3AGolf&hash=item51eab27c63:g:XFcAAOSwFdtXy-zk

Now my gear change is spot on and the gear stick has virtually no movement when in gear. The bushes with the most play on mine were the ones on the end of the gear stick!

Just to help things a little more I also changed the gearbox oil and that made a huge difference! I would suggest doing that anyway unless you know for certain it has been changed recently.

Good shout on gearbox oil,
Often over looked and never replaced. Alot of manufacturers now recommend 40,000 miles for an oil change but I think 60,000 miles is often enough for me.

Since switching to fully synthetic oil I've lost the 2nd gear crunch when the gearbox is cold and gear changes alot smoother.  :-)
  

Great feedback guys! I think I remember seeing a receipt for a gearbox oil change from previous owner. I will check to see if mileage was written and when it was done

Oil I used, 30% off till tonight but Euro seems to be doing a lot of sales online at the moment.
2 bottles is plenty as you will never be able to drain every last bit of oil out of the gearbox.

http://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/c/Volkswagen_Golf+Cabriolet_1.8_1989/p/car-accessories/engine-oils-and-car-fluids/car-tranmission-oils/manual-transmission-fluids/?522776022&0&cc5_868

£12.87 with the discount.  

check the shorter linkage on the back of the box, if one of the lock clips has snapped off it'll work 1-4 but when you try to select 5th the linkage end opens out making it harder to select.

mine did this and symptoms were the same, right down to having to press the stick down to get the extra reach needed to get 5th lol

Thanks guys and Rubjonny, I will check the shorter linkage. I think I know what you mean with the lock clips as the ones on my old cabby had broken

Check the gear shift alignment is correctly set.

Steve_Matthews said

Check the gear shift alignment is correctly set.

Steve_Matthews said

Check the gear shift alignment is correctly set.

How does one do that? Is it in the guide

yeah itsv all covered in the gear linkage technical guide up top