Gear selection problems!

Hi all,

I was having problems selecting first gear when i got my car (mk1 gti), then the other day it wouldnt go into reverse, however where you would normally locate reverse the car was now selecting first!
Had a friend over the other day to do my gear linkage, i purchased the bush,link and ball kit. We fitted all of it bar the ball, spring and circlip as these looked to be in good condition. Firstly we set it up to 19mm as per the guide on here.
Put the car back on the ground, select reverse, and hey presto! We've got reverse back, reverse out of the drive and go to select 1st and get 3rd  
Back on axle stands and the car is then set up to 15mm, as per haynes manual. Put her back on the ground and select reverse, all good Go to select 1st, get 3rd  :scratch:
After playing around for a bit more i find that 1st can be selected by pressing the stick down, as you would to get reverse, but not pushing the stick all the way across to reverse. At this point it started raining really heavily so we decided to call it a day as the car was driveable and we could play around with it during the week or this coming weekend.
Was driving the car around today and was all good except being a bit hit or miss with 1st, sometimes selecting reverse accidently. Got home and parked up in the drive.
Went out into the car a minute ago to move it as my dad needed to move one of his vans, reversed out, drove back in, went to reverse again and could only find first so seems to be back to square one  :dontknow:
I did manage to get reverse once, but that was after selecting 1st several times.
Any ideas guys? Going to change the ball and spring this week, but any other pointers/opinions would be great.

Sorry about the essay!  

Alan

When I've done this the measurement in Haynes book of Lies never work. The engine and gearbox will have moved on their mounts over the years for start.

What I did was put it in gear and depending on what gear was actually selected disconnect the mechanism and put the gear lever in the postion to match the actual gear. Tighten everthing back up. E.g. if 1st is selected at gearbox end place lever in 1st position.

Have a read of this  http://www.vwgolfmk1.org.uk/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=56119
I had similar problems after changing linkage bushes.

Cheers for the ideas guys. I will update when i get a chance to play with it, which will probably be at the weekend.
Keep the suggestions coming
Thanks
Alan

When I changed my sons 1st Mk 1 1.3 gearbox we had similar problems.

I jacked the car up, supported it properly got underneath and `tweaked` the connector etc as he tried the gears in the car. It was the only way it worked. We knew we could positively get each gear by adjusting the gear lever position in neutral when tightening it up so although stiff as the car wasnt running the change was as sweet as a nut when it was.

The settings are remarkably fine so with some wear the optimum point (in factory/Haynes manuals can disappear.

Hope that helps.

sorry to thread jump but where can i get the bush kits from as its like stirring soup at the mo to find a gear???? :dontknow:

i got mine from crazy quiffs

top man thankyou very much

have you checked your flux capacitor mate??