Coby,

Sort of a change in subject here, but I wonder if the adjustment you
proposed here to improve shifting into first wouldn't also help abate that
annoying "shifter rattle" some of us vanagon'ers have complained about.
That is, the rattling noise the shift lever makes in some vans make when
cruising along in 3rd or 4th gear under moderate speeds and loads.

Personally, this has been a problem (and a very annoying one) in both my
'82 and' 91 vanagons.  The problem seems to be caused by the lower
shifter assembly vibrating against the shifter gate and enclosure.  I (and
the dealer) fussed over this a lot on my '91 Westy, finally fabricating a
plastic pad in the enclosure to cushion the vibration.  This worked great
for a couple of years, but then the noise returned.

This has come up on the list several times now, but I don't believe anyone
has successfully addressed this problem.  It would seem that a minor
radial adjustment might be just the thing to change the clearance of the
shifter assembly so that it doesn't rattle against the enclosure.  Your
thoughts - and any other suggestions - would be mightily appreciated.

-Wes

> Date:          Mon, 5 Jul 1999 19:21:25 -0700
> From:          Coby Smolens <cobys@WELL.COM>
> Subject:       Re: shift lever adjustment

> The "rear selector shaft" would be the rear section of shaft which runs
> from just abaft the fuel tank to the selector pivot shaft on the right
> (US passenger) side of the transmission.
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM]On Behalf
> > Of Woody Halsey
> > Sent: Sunday, July 04, 1999 9:16 AM
> > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> > Subject: shift lever adjustment
> >
> >
> > Dear List,
> >
> > Last week Coby suggested the following to make shifting into first easier:
> >
> > "If so the adjustment that corrects this problem is to loosen the nut &
> > bolt on
> >  the locking clamp on the rear section of the selector shaft and turn the
> > rear
> > section of the shaft counterclockwise just a bit. "
> >
> > My dumb question is: Where is "the rear section of the selector
> > shaft?" Are
> > we talking about the collar that holds the spring under the rubber boot on
> > the shift lever in the cabin of the van and is held by a set screw? Or are
> > we talking about a part on the transmission, which I probably do not want
> > to approach. Or is the rear-most section of the linkage that goes from the
> > shift lever in front to the clutch in back.  As I think and re-read, I am
> > guessing the last, but ...
> >
> > TIA,
> >
> > Woody
> >
>

Wes Neuenschwander
Seattle, WA
wesn@eskimo.com