tool for adjustment of gear linkage..

I'm having real problems with mine, i've been trying the 'trial and error' method with bugger all success (trying to keep the mech in position as per teh haynes diagram).

The mk2 has a tool for holding the gearlever in place, is there an equivalent for the mk1?

I've replaced all the bushes, inc the bottom ball joint on the stick, but at teh moment Reverse is a pain to get into, and althought I can find all the others is hardly slick

 

i'm fed up with it, will a garage be able to adjust it quickly/easily/cheaply? Will I need to go to a specific VW specialist?

Or does anyone know someone in the Reading area that can show what to do!

This is all ignoring the clutch slippage problem i've got.    

hmmm!
This is what I did.
Got a piece of metal 15mm wide (doesn't matter the material just the width - 15mm for 5speed; 20mm for 4sp)
Undid clamp enough to move the rod within it.
inserted the 15mm wide piece between the shift finger and the stop plate - there was a bit of play allowing the shift finger to slop about 2mm - turned the shift rod in the clamp so that this slack was taken up and there was no movement against the piece between the shift finger and stop plate, then whilst holding that in place with one hand tightened the clamp with the other (using spanner actually) Result was that I had the specified gap, and the shift worked.

I will be interested to hear if this helps.

Paul

I just got my girlfriend to hold the gearlever in place while I tightened it!

AUSGOLF - do you have a pic of the location of the 15mm spacer for the adjustment?

Hi!
[do you have a pic of the location of the 15mm spacer for the adjustment?]

What I am suggesting sets the gap "a" in the diagram from Haynes that mk1_driver posted. Its a bit of a fiddle, but doesn't need girlfriends (the wife's grumpy enough when I ask for help with the car)

Hope it works for you.

Paul

Ausgolf, I had considered doing what you did, but it surprises me that no-one had made up a simple clamp to hold the 'finger' in the correct position in both directions of travel.

Ok, so say this end has been clamped up, and the gearlinkage clamp at box end has been undone/loosened.  How is the is the angle and position of the clamp on the the splined part of the main shift rod decided?

When I put mine on I held the rod roughly in place and pushed the clamp onto the spline at the angle it sat at naturally, and as far on as it would go, then did up.  I can find all my gears, so left it at that, but there has to be a better way of getting the correct clamp angle, shouldnt it be the same for everyone?

Is trial and error seriously what VW mechs would have done?

Dave

ManicGTI said

 How is the is the angle and position of the clamp on the the splined part of the main shift rod decided?

Hi Dave!
This is precisely what the process I offered is supposed to set. The 15mm gap, or 20mm for the 4spd, at the shift finger-stop plate is supposed to set the position of the splined part of the shift rod in the clamp.

On my 5spd it is quite a sensitive adjustment - big difference between spot-on and just-off in terms of selecting first/second on down changes.

I assume that wear in the synchro rings is the main contributor, but in a car of this age there is slop in many components, and what I suggested was a way in which I minimised that slop.

Paul

Volkswagen Workshop Service and Repair Manuals > Golf Mk1 > Power transmission | 5 speed manual Gearbox 020 | Gearbox mechanics,operation, construction,diff. | Controls, Housing | Adjusting gearshift linkage

What I have used in the past after changing the main delrin bush on the shaft (neet trick is to slice the new bushing in half lengthwise and slip it on the shaft rather than undoing it and scooting it on.).  Is to use a Cassette Tape (remember those) Case to make the adjustment as that is about the perfect tool to measure the gap.

The stop finger if the Nylon has broken off can be repaired as well.

www.cabby-info.com has a couple of good links on how to set the two adjustments, as well as how to repair the stop finger.