I just realized Daryl's reply was off-list--sorry about that Daryl if you
were trying to keep it a secret how awesomely helpful you are :).

mike

On Mon, Mar 5, 2012 at 6:54 PM, Mike South <msouth@gmail.com> wrote:

> Woooooooohooooooo!
>
> Thanks to everyone that took the time to reply.  I actually had it done
> right once, then I saw how much better it fit in back, how it nestles into
> place and holds itself there while you screw it in instead of just flopping
> all over, and I said, "duh, I guess I better redo that".
>
> (But what I should have said was "I need to go check to see how this is
> supposed to go on", obviously).
>
> So I really like the way Dennis phrased it here:
>
>
> "Not the rear where it looks like it belongs."
>
> Anyway, I might not be getting rubber in all four gears, but I'm
> definitely getting power in all four gears now :).
>
> I love this list.  So cool that Daryl comes on to volunteer to talk me
> through it over the phone, too--always good to get another warm fuzzy about
> the vendor you chose!
>
> Also, along with correct answers from Dennis, Daryl, and Miguel, Scott
> also posted the correct answer, in comic sans--probably not on purpose but
> definitely an added bonus for an internet meme fiend like myself.
>
> Again, a huge, huge, thank you.  To all of you.
>
> Neil, didn't forget you, but I'm going to start a new thread on that,
> because I am curious about how it's supposed to work now.  That picture is
> great, btw, and thanks for your input.
>
> Here is a coupon for free homemade bagels you can redeem any time you come
> to McKinney, TX:
>
> +----------------+
> |  free bagels   |
> +----------------+
>
> (Yes, other list members can use this even if they didn't chime in on the
> thread.)
>
> mike
>
>
> On Mon, Mar 5, 2012 at 5:12 AM, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com>
> wrote:
> > The guide bushing plate on the transmission may be on the wrong side of
> the
> > mounting boss. It goes on the front (of van) of the casting. Not the rear
> > where it looks like it belongs.
> >
> > Dennis
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
> Of
> > Mike South
> > Sent: Monday, March 05, 2012 12:36 AM
> > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> > Subject: All the gears but second
> >
> > Hi,
> >
> > I have an 85 Westy, formerly AT, that I am in (what I really I really,
> > dearly hope are) the final stages of converting to a manual
> transmission.  I
> > took it for my first test drive with everything hooked up and, as I said
> in
> > the subject, I can get it to go into every gear but second.
> >
> > The front and back shift rods (by which I mean the long rods that run
> from
> > the bottom of the lever at the front of the van back to the ball-and-cup
> > thing at the back) were clamped together by the previous owner so hard
> that
> > there are four indentations in the rods where the corners of the clamps
> have
> > bitten into the rods.  Because of these indentations it is relatively
> easy
> > to get it into the position that it used to be in (since you have that
> > "convenient" (I say sarcastically) "stop" point), but getting it to move
> > further in or out from that point is more of a challenge.
> >
> > I am wondering if people can tell me how far into the back rod their
> front
> > rod is inserted.  When I look at mine from the side, I can still see the
> end
> > of the front rod in the slit in the back rod.  I would be able to see
> > daylight through there if there was daylight to see under the van, and I
> > think I could fit a thin finishing nail through there, but not much else.
> >
> > Here is the "logic", such as it is, that I am applying to think I might
> be
> > able to make an adjustment to the rods to get it to go into 2nd.  Since
> > second gear is with the lever inside the van pulled backwards, that means
> > it's pulling the lever on the transmission forward, and *if* it's not
> > getting into gear because it's not moving it forward enough, it could be
> > helped by me shoving the front rod further into the back rod, shortening
> the
> > overall length, so that when it pulls forward, it pulls further forward.
> >
> > I would just go down there, try that, and see if it worked except that
> it's
> > going to be both difficult to do, and difficult to undo, because the rods
> > are deformed by the aforementioned pinching, so I thought I would bounce
> it
> > off y'all first and see if you think it makes sense to try or would be a
> > waste of time.
> >
> > Also One More Thing That Might Be Relevant
> >
> > I did that lateral adjustment thing in the bentley where you are
> supposed to
> > have 23mm between the ear and the guide in the front shift box (at least
> > that's what I think it's showing).  When I put in a socket (that was
> > actually 23.4 mm or so wide) in the position shown, the left side ear was
> > all the way against the box.  It doesn't look like that's what they were
> > going for in the picture.  I'm mentioning it in case having that
> adjustment
> > wrong could be the issue, and also to ask others where the left ear is
> when
> > the right is 23mm from the guide (or if I'm interpreting that picture
> > wrong).
> >
> > Thanks for any help you might be able to offer.
> >
> > I should also mention two things about the transmission itself.  One,
> it's a
> > zero miles rebuild from AA Transaxle.  This is the first time I have used
> > it.  Two, I did get it to go into second, once, when I was cornering I
> > think.  So I'm guessing that the transmission can "do it".
> >
> > One other thing I guess is that, since it's second, I guess I can try
> > putting it in second by hand (disconnecting the ball from the cup and
> > putting it into second by hand, then starting off on a hill or something
> and
> > see if it is actually in gear that way, to eliminate the possibility that
> > there's anything wrong in the transmission itself.
> > Advice on "how you know it's in second when you're shifting it by hand"
> > would also be appreciated.  I'll probably lie under there while someone
> else
> > shifts it before disconnecting just to make sure my mental picture is
> > correct before trying that.  Should be easy to tell if I put it in 2nd or
> > 4th though when I let off the clutch, I guess.
> >
> > One more thing, this is also a zero miles Bostig conversion.  It's
> possible
> > that it could be sitting in the vehicle slightly differently (like the
> whole
> > transmission could be pulled a little left or right) than it would with
> the
> > original engine.  I don't necessarily have any reason for thinking this
> > would be enough to matter, but I don't want to leave anything out that
> could
> > possibly be relevant.
> >
> > Thanks for any insight you guys might have on any of it.
> >
> > mike
> >
>