Somewhere in  reading about lubricants,etc, etc, I read that the name
WD40 was actually derived from Water Displaement test batch #40. It
really does work as a water displacing agent, but it's lubricating
qualities are rather poor for the long term.
The stuff just doesn't stay put. It seems to have some volatility,
though not much, but enough to disappear in a short time after
application, depending on the environment. Other, lubes that might work
better are LPS (comes in a variery of viscosities), Lubriplate lite
lithium grease. I personally like Marvels Mystery Oil. The real oil, not
the top overhaul stuff. the real oil is a true penetrating oil. But if
there is need for the parts to stay coated with a lubricant, then it
needs to be a lubricant with some body. Spray-ons just don't hold up.

Regards,

John Rodgers
88 GL Driver

Gnarlodious wrote:

>Entity Jim Felder spoke thus:
>
>
>
>>My shifter (90 vanagon) has lately started to balk going into first. I
>>can hear a dry rubbing under the floor where the shift lever pivots
>>(front) often when I move it.
>>
>>From where, top or bottom, should I attack this? what should I expect
>>to see when I get in? Anything I should probably consider replacing?
>>
>>I checked the archives and they were a lot of help for the rear
>>ball-and-socket, but didn't directly address what lay under the front
>>floor.
>>
>>
>I spray all moving linkage parts about every 2 months with WD40. The front I
>get whenever the spare tire is out. By shifter boot is loose which makes it
>easy to lube from inside.
>
>-- Gnarlie
>
>
>