Help ive lost me gears

[marble]

HELP I have a 1981 2ltr air cooled. driving to work monday morning jumped out of 4th gear and unable to find it again. Then same in third. got to work in second and first. Put over pit monday night found nut on end of selector shaft in gear box loose (bit wiv 2 balls on rod that fits in box on gear linkage) so tightened it. First and second better reverse is there but third and fourth still seem to be missing. there is slack in the gear leaver at the front of the van.
Is it Bu**">.^d????

[Mushr00m]

Hi, the gear selector shaft coupling may have come loose underneath, it's about level with the battery, midway down the underside length of the van. It looks just like a battery lead clamp on a hollow shaft that couples with the extension rod for the gear change using a serated shaft & the clamp.

I had it come off on mine going through Doncaster a few month back & I couldn't get it into any gear at all & had to do an emergency 1st repair to a Westy I'd only had a few weeks. If it's just come loose it may have rotated on it's shaft which makes it difficult if not impossible to get into certain gears(namely 1st & 2nd). I quickly diagnosed the problem when it happened to me & hurriedly reconnected it. It got me home but I had to reposition the next day so I could get 1st & 2nd gear easier. I guessed it's position using 3rd gear slection on reconnection & it's been ok ever since.

Have someone in the cab, split the coupling & keep hold of both ends. Get whoever's helping to select 3rd gear whilse your still holding both shafts, then carefully line up the main extension shaft & slide it into the hollow shaft as far in as you can. Then tighten the clamp & give it a run out to check.

1st is now a very deliberate select on mine, but all the other gears are fine to select. I may have the positioning slightly out & if anyone has a proper method, please don't be shy about it

Hope this helps.

[marble]

Thanks mine was making a very nasty noise in 3rd n 4th with no drive, but a very nice gent has donated a new box which is going in on the 22nd.
Thanks

kev