Here are some pics I took last night.  Shows up and down position
http://www.picupine.com/bed15ccx

-----Original Message-----
From: Daryl Christensen [mailto:daryl@aatransaxle.com] 
Sent: Tuesday, May 08, 2012 7:20 PM
To: Dominic Provini Jr.; vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: RE: '85 1.9 manual shift

1/8" is more like the normal up/down movement.
An inch is waaay too much. Might be the collar just above the "ball &
socket needs to get pushed down and retightened or it is just worn out..

Daryl of AA Transaxle
425-788-4070
"On the cutting edge of Old technology"
86 Syncro Westy w/Turbo Zetec in the trunk
90 Doka Tristar w/2.5 Subie

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
Of Dominic Provini Jr.
Sent: Tuesday, May 08, 2012 1:08 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: '85 1.9 manual shift

Hey all,

I have an 85 1.9 manual shift.  I had a new clutch put in last year, but
I recently noticed difficulty going into 1st. It's not grinding gear
trouble but just finding the right spot kind of thing.  It shifts
smoothly up and down through the rest of the gears.  

My question is:  when the stick is out of gear (N) how much up and down
play is normal.  I can pull the stick up about and inch or so exposing
some springs inside the plastic ball.  It appears to greased pretty
good.  Just wondering, Should I be able to pull the stick up, I'm not
sure.  It's probably due for some routine maintenance.

Thanks

Dom