Jim,

Karl's two rules of maintenance.

One)  Check all of the cheapest things first.

Two)  If it's electrical, check the last thing you replaced first.

Karl Wolz

----- Original Message -----
From: "Jim Arnott" <jrasite@EONI.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Wednesday, October 10, 2001 5:00 PM
Subject: '83.5 no shift update

> Original message:
>
> > Is it tranny time?  83.5 GL manual.  Suddenly locks into gear.  First,
> > reverse, third.  second and fourth won't engage.  If I mess w/ it for a
> > bit, I can get it into neutral but when I slide it (easily, BTW) into
> > any of the above gears, it's stuck again.
> >
> > I've checked the linkage and all appears well, but...
> >
>
> So I go buy the local boneyard's '85 tranny.  Clean it up.  Go out this
> morning to swap 'em out.  Up on stands. Top left bolt out, pull AFM and
> ess hose to get to top right out.  Crawl under to plug in Allen wrench
> to hold bolt.  Notice that shift lever is at odd angle.  Grab and
> wiggle.  It wiggles.  Drop the shifter rod and find a wallered out shift
> arm on the trans.
>
> Back to the boneyard.  Walk ALL the way to the back to the carcass of
> the '85 to get shifter arm.  Not there. :o(  Walk back to the office and
> find it laying in the middle of the road about halfway back. :o)! Stop
> through office and let them know that tranny is coming back.
>
> Drive back home and install new used shifter arm. Toss in a new air
> cleaner as a good measure. Fire it up, seems to shift alright.  Button
> it up and take it around the block. All is well.  Drive vanagon back to
> boneyard and GLADLY pay 10% restocking fee on the trans.
>
> Am convinced that the key to Vanagon trans long life (210k so far) is a
> combination of fresh GL-4 85W90 every couple years and proper shifting
> techniques. First, neutral, second. Second, neutral, third. Third,
> neutral, fourth.
>
> Life is good!
>
> Jim
>