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So after nearly a year I thought I had finally got my subaru T25 ready for its maiden voyage. After numerous hours messing with the gear linkage after a full rebuild I managed to get all gears perfectly...until I start the engine. It will not select any gear. The last job I did was changing the clutch slave cylinder which was leaking. Pressure bled the system, no bubbles coming out, just nice clear fluid. Pedal feels fine but it will not go in gear.
I am so disheartened. Anyone got any bright ideas or do I need to take the gearbox out?
Thanks in advance
Mark (feeling sorry for myself)
1987 VW T25: Subaru EJ20 using RJES parts (If it was meant to go fast it wouldn't be brick shaped!)
Sounds like its a clutch problem causing either binding/drag or non-function of the release bearing. Can you get someone to press the pedal whilst you eyeball the release shaft lever ?
Syncrosport (taking a break as of summer 2024)
Volkswagen Transporter, reloaded.
Have checked the operation of the release arm and all is OK. Just had a message from Rjes and he mentioned that the clutch release arm can be fitted on the splines of the clutch release fork in a few different ways depending if petrol or diesel. Good to know but gonna be a nightmare getting the arm off in situ
1987 VW T25: Subaru EJ20 using RJES parts (If it was meant to go fast it wouldn't be brick shaped!)
I'm in a similar position, install went well and finally got the thing started and it won't engage the gears. I've yet to try bleeding the clutch, and I'm really, really, really, really hoping that's all it is.
Hi mate.
Richard told me to check the clutch release arm as it has four serrations and the Rjes clutch release fork has six serrations. The clutch release arm (if van was petrol) should have the clutch release arm fitted to the middle four serrations. I took my gearbox out to get the release arm off and found that I had not fitted it to the middle four serrations but had instead fitted it to the end four serrations, furthest away from the clutch slave cylinder. This meant that the slave cylinder wasn't fully able to disengage the clutch. It was fine with the van on axle stands but when trying to select gears with the wheels on the ground it wasn't happening. Apparently there are also two different size slave cylinder pushrods. If you have the longer one the clutch release arm is fitted as I mentioned above. If you have the shorter one then apparently you put the clutch arm on the clutch release fork on the end four serrations nearest to the slave cylinder. Makes sense when you have the clutch release arm off and you can see the splines/serrations.
Unfortunately I am still waiting to find out if my old and new slave cylinders have the short or long pushrods. Have emailed Richard for the lengths so will let you know when he comes back to me.
1987 VW T25: Subaru EJ20 using RJES parts (If it was meant to go fast it wouldn't be brick shaped!)
original vw clutch fork shaft only has 4 splines same as the lever arm so only fits one way, when using with a RJES bellhousing you use a petrol lever arm, which is no longer available new; but diesel one is, so Richard had his shaft made with 6 splines so either petrol or diesel lever arm can be used in either VW or RJES bellhousing application; if using petrol arm with rjes bellhousing or petrol bellhousing use middle 4 splines on RJES fork.
The difference between the diesel and petrol lever arms is 1 spline 15 degrees which compensates for the different slave bracket mounting positions, if you use a diesel lever on a petrol or rjes bellhousing with vw fork you will not get enough throw to operate clutch and the levers look the same so it is possible to get it wrong
Thanks Aiden. I need to take my gearbox out and see what the problem is. If it isn't the hydraulics or the position of the lever, what are the next things to look at?
I can get it into gear with the engine off, but the gear stick won't move all the the way into gear when it's running.
I now have the petrol clutch release arm on the middle four splines of the Rjes clutch fork. Pedal now goes all the way to the floor and disengages the clutch however having a major problem with 1st gear. Occasionally it feels like it is fully in gear however most of the time it a finger touch of the gear lever in 1st would make it jump out. I drove it up a slight incline in 1st and it died unless I really revved it. Does this sound like a clutch or gear alignment problem. This gear linkage in the bane of my life at the moment
Thanks
1987 VW T25: Subaru EJ20 using RJES parts (If it was meant to go fast it wouldn't be brick shaped!)
