Gear Linkage Adjustment

[hulmey]

I've had the gear linkage off my 5 speed 1990 T3 due to having had the engine and box out and to do the bushes at the bottom of the gear lever and along the linkage and I'm having great trouble getting 1st 3rd and 5th now. I have the workshop manual but the pictures look nowt like mine ! (Probably me just being thick). I've aligned the holes in the plate at the bottom of the lever up as it tells you to and thats about as far as I'm getting and I thought I'd put the joint half way down the linkage back to where I marked it.
Tyring to do this on my own as well which isn't good.
Anyone have any ideas or know whats the best way to set them up. Any help would be much appreciated as I'm getting very pi**ed off with it now.
Thanks.

[lhd]

Get it in third gear then undo the union under the van. when the union is loose slide the forward rod so that it goes into second keeping the rear part in the same place(third),then mate up the rods and slide the forward rod back into third again. This is what was advised to me and it seems to have worked ok. may take two or three attempt to get it right though.
Rob.

[Aidan]

have you fitted the plate holding the onion on the rear of the boss on the gearbox instead of the front of it ?

[hulmey]

have you fitted the plate holding the onion on the rear of the boss on the gearbox instead of the front of it ?

Your a life saver ! Just had a look and I had put it in the wrong place, got all five gears now. Can't believe I did that

Thanks.

[Aidan]

tis a very common error

[CovKid]

Just refitted gearbox and as soon as I go into first, the ball pops out of the socket on gearbox end and I have to get underneath to free it again. Clearly thats dure to me doing like everyone else and fitting retaining plate on the engine (wrong) side of that flange. The bellows on mine has disintegrated so for now am using polythene and cable ties.

What I don't quite figure is how that ball is retained in the socket. Is there ANYTHING holding it in or does it just lay in there?

[dugwiththevwbug]

the ball just sits in there if it pops out then you have to much travel in that direction.
Just had a 5 speed with a plastic bottle top shoved down into the cup as a spacer removed it and the crud regreased and works like a beaut now

sometimes the problem is the travel which can be reduced by the sliding joint halfway along the bus by the tank

[CovKid]

Yes thanks chap. I moved the support bracket and it stopped it popping out but temporary polythene bag for bellows not good. Will have to find something suitable....