Club 80-90 Forums

Hi All.... another dreaded Newbie here... mock me at will!!

Just purchased a 1987 T25 hard high top as a project for the family. Upgraded from my amateur Transit conversion. The T25 has a recently reconditioned diesel engine and has done 2000 miles since then.

Alongside numerous issues to deal with (i intend to fully use this forum for years!!), my first problem is the gears. Driving it home, it slips out of fourth. 1st, 2nd and 3rd are fine, but on acceleration, fourth pops out. Theres not much resistance, so keeping my hand on it kept it in.

So here's my question..... and I'm not asking for a mythical 100% answer without inspection or photos, but does anyone have any opinions? Complete new gear box or maybe just a linkage issue? Or is that wishful thinking???

I intend to post pics of his transformation as we get stuff done. Look forward to all your theories.....

Many thanks
Stowie

Hi and welcome. No we won't mock. That's for other forums!

You are correct in your line of thinking. It might indeed be the linkage, which is relatively cheap to sort, but could equally well be for example a worn synchro ring on 4th, or other internal problem, which involves an expensive rebuild.

So it would be well worth your while to get under the van and examine the linkage, with someone in the van operating the gear lever. The clue would be if it doesn't seem to go far enough into 4th/2nd, due to general sloppiness, or perhaps some kind of obstruction. There are all sorts of opportunities for sloppiness, particularly the cup and ball arrangement at the side of the gearbox. The linkage is also adjustable, but you'll need a Haynes Manual for the details.

Before you spend loads of money on the gearbox, tell us what size and type of diesel you have. There are options for gearboxes if you have a 1.9 engine.

[E D I T] Just read the title...... Doh!![/E D I T]

Hi Colin
Thanks for the reply.... yeah, its a 1.6 diesel with a re-conditioned engine which has done about 2000 miles. Got through the last MOT no problems with just three advisories, none of which were to do with gears.
I guess I'm just hoping for the best but expecting the worst. Am gonna take it to an VW camper enthusiast/mechanic rather than my regular mechanic in the hopes that he won't just shrug and say "new gearbox". Like I say, i drove it home (about 150 miles) yesterday with no real problems, and barely had to hold it in fourth, but the moment you take your hand off the stick it slips out.
Here's hoping its something cheap and easy..... would give me more money to spend on the not-working mileometer, the fillered but unsprayed panel, the untested 240v, a leisure battery..... the list goes on!!

Stowie

Hi, sounds very likely to be selection issues if youve driven it for that distanve with virtually no probs, there is so much that can cause loss of movement when all the items can have a bit too much play/slop, for once this is an item that is fairly easy to check for and sort,only down side is if it turns out that the link set up is correct then you are looking at spending, which = welcome to the joys of ownership......
stick your location up as there may be folks near than can assist
mm