Cant get 1st gear - help!!

Post by **ChrisW** » 17 Aug 2007, 09:34

T3 Whitestar with 5spd box.

Cant select 1st gear at all, either with engine running or off. All other gears fine.

New to T3's so what do I need to be looking for to cure this? Guessing (hoping actually!!) that its just a simple adjustment, but the Haynes manual reads like a rocket ship manual.

any help or advice please.

Ta,

Chris.

Post by **clartsonly** » 17 Aug 2007, 10:47

sounds like the gear linkage is on its way out at the gearbox end, can you manage to get 1st via 2nd then straight up avoiding reverse? I struggle with 1st completely now it seems to be reverse or 3rd.

Post by **Ian Hulley** » 17 Aug 2007, 10:48

Sounds like you need to set up the linkage properly. Couldn't get 1st or reverse when I put the s/h box in our Bus. Justin Slugbelly slackened off the rear linkage and I pulled the gear lever right across to the right while he tightened it up again. Voila 1st & reverse.

Hope this helps, Ian.

Post by **ChrisW** » 17 Aug 2007, 11:02

cheers guys, goes into reverse no problem, just cant get it into 1st.

Will give it a go at adjusting the rear linkage.

Post by **Ian Hulley** » 17 Aug 2007, 11:12

ChrisW wrote:cheers guys, goes into reverse no problem, just cant get it into 1st.

Will give it a go at adjusting the rear linkage.

Buy a Haynes or similar before you start screwing around with owt .... their set-up proceedure, although it reads like Lithuanian to me

, is supposed to be the best.

Cheers,Ian.

Post by **ChrisW** » 17 Aug 2007, 11:24

Ian Hulley wrote:
ChrisW wrote:cheers guys, goes into reverse no problem, just cant get it into 1st.

Will give it a go at adjusting the rear linkage.

Buy a Haynes or similar before you start screwing around with owt .... their set-up proceedure, although it reads like Lithuanian to me , is supposed to be the best.

Cheers,Ian.

Yeah, got a Haynes, but to be honest didnt understand a bloody word of it!!

cheers.

Post by **toomanytoys** » 17 Aug 2007, 13:58

Could be any manner of issues.
Check the bush in the mounting plate on the box, you can slacken the bolts and pudh the plate up a to remove a bit of play from the "hockey stick" on the box..
Also check that something isnt trapped between the linkage somewhere, restricting movement..
check the central UJ hasnt come loose..
the bush and bolt in the bottom of the gearstick (accessed from underneath) can wear and come loose also

it could be worth dropping the rear linkage and trying to manipulate the gearbox change mech by hand to see it it really is the box that has a problem.. that would mean pushing the lever into the box and turning it anti clock wise..
Have a word with Aidan "Beaker"

Post by **ChrisW** » 17 Aug 2007, 15:31

just pulled the gaitor off, is this how its supposed to look?

[IMG:640:480]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v477/ ... CF2571.jpg[/img]

apologies for the questions but new to T3's!

Post by **toomanytoys** » 17 Aug 2007, 15:52

Nope... looks like the tops come off..
VW do a repair kit for sensible money

Post by **ChrisW** » 17 Aug 2007, 16:11

reckon this could be the problem then?

Post by **toomanytoys** » 17 Aug 2007, 18:00

It wont help...

Post by **HarryMann** » 19 Aug 2007, 00:53

Photo-article for fitting that cabfloor pivot repair kit is here:

Don't forget the Wiki Dicki!

and for other General Box topics:-

Gearbox main page index

Suggest you read the lot, but as Si says , that cabfloor joint doesn't look right for starters !

PS. When peeps say adjust the REAR linkage, what I think they mean is slacken off and reset the spline connection under the CENTRE of the vehicle, which adjusts the relative (rotational) position of the rear and front sections, so that the levers l/r position (and thus its relation to the detent box under the cab) is changed for a given gear salection.

Best to read the Wiki on that before dicking about with it, one spline can make a lot of difference, most g/c topics are in the Wiki

Good idea to post that piccy, God bless digi cameras, a picture saves a 1000 words...