The cleaning is easy to do. Just take about any solvent and spray or brush
it on and clean the parts. After you've cleaned use the brush to wipe on a
good supply of general purpose grease. The boot doesn't seem to do much good
so the grease is actually a better seal and rust preventer as well as
lubrication.
Stan Wilder
Engine Ceramics
214-352-4931
www.engineceramics.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "Barry Mercer" <BJMercer@SYMPATICO.CA>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Sunday, June 19, 2005 8:49 PM
Subject: How do I ... (shifter stuff)

> Hi Folks...
>
> I'd like to clean the rear shift linkage.  The area that goes into
> the transmission.   I've had a look and found the boot that covers
> the shift lever with the ball at the end at is ripped.  I've got the
> replacement boot from the dealer.  ( $17.00 Cdn)  The boot that
> covers the actuator shaft also need replacing.  I'll see if the
> dealer can find one for me.
>
> A couple of questions... the tension pin (Bently page 34.11) on the
> shifter shaft.  I assume to remove that sucker all I have to is just
> tap it out right ?
>
> I had a go at trying to loosen the nut that holds the "balled shaft"
> to the actuator at the transmission... I found the tranny seemed to
> "shift" gears when I moved the nut.   How difficult will it be for me
> to reassemble the whole shebang and still be able to find first gear
> when it's all put back together ?  I see the Bently says the lever
> only fits one way so that might be the answer eh ?
>
> And those pins at the knuckle joint along the shift rod...(Bently
> page 34.11) are they tough to deal with ?
>
> Any thoughts always appreciated.
>
> Barry Mercer VE3ZLB
>
> Sudbury, On Canada
>   "Moo" 88 Westy  209k KM