tricky gearbox

hi,
can anybody tell me how difficult it is to change the gaer linkages on a mk1? my gearoxis a little tricky to get into 2nd and 5th. just feels like theres not much room to aim at. are the linkages the most likely cause?

thanks

doobytunes said

are the linkages the most likely cause?

I would say, most definately!

Easy to actually do - fiddly to get to though. Much easier from undrneath the car if you have access to a pit or ramp…

thanks Al, do you know somewhere i can find a guide?

I found the Haynes manual very good to follow last weekend, set mine up but think the selector rod clamp wasn't on tight enough and moved, now got the same problem as you describe so a simple adjustment should do the trick

from memory, make sure the car's not in gear (correct me if I'm wrong anywhere!)

Slacken off the selector rod (Looks like a 'd' at the end of the rod) clamp

 the lower 'finger' of the gear lever (inside the rubber boot with a round plastic cap) should be dead centre to the black plate and 15mm away from it (any of this making sense)

then without moving the rod tighten up the selector rod clamp

If nobody else can help I should be able to scan this bit from the manual or get some pictures when I adjust mine again

Not really no… It isn't complicated though, just take mental note of what you are taking off where.

It can take some trial and error to get it all to line up properly again unless you use a purpose built jig to hold the gear stick - don't know if you can buy these or possibly make one?!?

I'm sure I have seen people talk about them on here before…

thanks for the tips, i think im gonna have to purchase a couple of ramps and have a go at the weekend.

If you know someone with a steady hand and doesn't have a short attention span to hold the gear lever dead still while you do it all up that should do the trick  :wink:

My tip is to jack up and support the car correctly as high as you can get it then working under the car with some basic tools and a new bush kit and the 2 selector rods [about ?14.00 from GSF] do the following .

First read the haynes manual and then make some notes while under the car how it all goes together or take some digital pics .

Start at the gear stick end [with the car in neutral]do the part under the rubber boot replace that then work your way forward doing one bush at a time , the only part you have to mark is the splined rod- so it goes back in the same place it came from -i used tipex . Work your way forward methodically do a bush then move on replace the next etc etc till you get to the final bush with the large split pin in . I stuck a nice blob of heavy grease on each bush as i replaced it to prolong its life and to keep it all well lubricated and smooth .

Job done in about 1 1/2 hours . Do not try to rip the lot off in one go or you will be on days the methodicall one at a time works a treat . Driving the car after replacing the bushes becomes pleasurable again . The replacement is actually dead easy once you have done one ..

Cheers Chudd..

:dontknow: when I got the selector rod from VW I asked about the little round rings (I assmued they were bushes) but was told that they are only to stop the dust getting in the balljoint and doesn't affect the gear change if you have them or not..

Think I was fed a load of rubbish??

Phil
    yes the little felt rings are to prevent crap getting in to your ball joints they are supplied with the GSF kits and the kits you find on Ebay have them . They will not affect the gear change just make the parts last another 20 years !!!


Chudd…..

another job to add to the continually growing list of jobs to do!

don't want to be lazy and possibly end up wearing out parts.. 'If a jobs worth doing, it's worth doing right'.. can hear my dad and grandad saying that now!  

thanks fellas, had a look at the haines manual last night and it doesnt look too difficult. slow and methodical certainly looks the way forward.