Hi, Tim
I did this a couple months ago. The lever got a real long travel, until I
couldnt get it out of 2nd gear. I drove slowly homewards in 2nd, had only a few
kms to go. When I got home, I crawled under the van, assuming that the coupling
was loose. A friend of mine pulled the lever, and suddenly, it was loose,
broken. I checked with the VW dealer the next day, a new lever was about $80
here. I didnt bother fixing or finding a used replacement at that price.
Replacement was easy, took about an hour. If you decide to find a used lever,
4-speeds and Syncros use the same lever, 5-speed is different. p/n for
4-speed/Syncro is: 251 711 121 E

PerL
88 Syncro

Tim Smith wrote:

> Hi,
>
> Anyone else had the gearshift break off in their hand?
>
> Trying for reverse yesterday and it came loose. Shifter travel had been
> getting larger and vaguer for a week prior.  Had cracked at the little
> dimple that a setscrew locks into, hidden under the rubber boot. Shifter is
> a hollow tube, crack just worked it's way across fast.  May want to check
> yours sometime.
>
> Quick fix was not quick, had to run a tap down the remaining stub and up
> into the broken bit, then thread in a bit of 3/8" coarse thread rod and
> screw parts together. This was just enough to get low and second gears,
> reverse was a fight. Once home I took it all out and welded the rod in
> place solidly.  PITA if this had happened in the boonies.
>
> Why do I still drive this vehicle?
>
> bye, Tim
>
> '87 Syncro Westy, shiftless in suburbia
> '85 CrewCab auto
> '85 7 seater parts van (also auto!)