Aircooled VW South Africa

Hi all.

I need help with reverse gear please - I recently did an engine out service, mainly because I had to replace the flywheel. The car has been standing for almost 4 years, and I finally got it going again, but now there is no revere gear.

I have tried adjusting the lockout plate (bad Idea, I know), but still nothing.

I am scared it may be the bush in the tunnel, or at the very least, me miss aligning the clutch etc. The clutch feels good and does not struggle to go into any other gear, and I did use a center pin when assembling and putting it back on the engine.

What do think the problem may be? Or did I really screw up

Does it feel if you selecting reverse but no motion

Or selecting and bringing noise

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Bugger wrote: Thu Feb 20, 2020 6:39 am Does it feel if you selecting reverse but no motion

Or selecting and bringing noise

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Sometimes it feels like reverse is selected, but just ends up being second. I have tried the exercise with the lockout plate loosened, but still nothing.

I doubt the bush in the tunnel would do this, have you checked the gear rod coupler at the back of the tunnel?

John Alves wrote: Thu Feb 20, 2020 9:40 am I doubt the bush in the tunnel would do this, have you checked the gear rod coupler at the back of the tunnel?

That ould be step 2 thank you - just very scared of the FFF rule.

What should I check for or when the plate is off?

Inspect the front (FIF) transmission mounting. If it's sheared then you'll have issues finding gears. Removing and reinstalling the engine probably caused the trans to change position slightly.

fig wrote: Thu Feb 20, 2020 10:46 am Inspect the front (FIF) transmission mounting. If it's sheared then you'll have issues finding gears. Removing and reinstalling the engine probably caused the trans to change position slightly.

eish - I will try both John's and your route, just hope its as easy as it looks on YT. That, or wife will have to push every time I need to reverse!

If the front trans mount is broken then the trans will move every time you go over a bump in the road and the shifting positions will change. This means you could start with no reverse and then have no first gear after the trans moves again. It also means that the shift rod is carrying the full weight of the front of the trans, so don't drive the car until it's repaired.

Best to replace all 3 trans mounts. It is possible, in a pinch, to change the front trans mount with engine in place, but you'd be better off removing the engine again to do this job. You have to remove engine to replace rear trans mounts.

Jack up the rear of the car and closely inspect the front trans mount. If it's torn it should be obvious.

fig wrote: Thu Feb 20, 2020 12:34 pm If the front trans mount is broken then the trans...

Thank you so much for this. I really appreciate. It would seem to be the most likely as the car stood for close to 4 years outside. I did find it strange that it worked, and then it didn't, and this may explain alot.

You can remove rear seat
And remove the Gear linkage joining the Gear rod to the Gear box hockey stick

Use pliers with a rag around the hockey stick and manually then select all gears
If you can select Reverse, start the bug and check it it stay in gear and you got motion

If you got reverse then as Fig mentioned all your mountings could be shot

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