Club 80-90 Forums

I have recently bought a 1984 T25 Westfalia (left hand drive). I have a problem with the first gear in that it won't engage. It possible to get into position but when you try to pull away it makes a grinding sound (typical of a normal car when it is not quite in gear). It is pulling away in second gear no probs and all the other gears are sweet as a nut. Is this a common problem? Has anyone come across this problem before and/or do they have any advice or tips?

Cheers

Colin

hello Colin welcome..
We have a gearbox expert by the name of Aiden.
I'm sure he'll answer your question, soon.

Cheers dude, Im hooked already

first gear is the weak link with the 5 speed, I'd advise doing an oil change, it won't fix it but the magnetic drain plug will probably tell you that it's rebuild time; long term use of 2nd for get away will damage it

Ok dude, cheers for the advice

To me it sounds like its not 'quite'going into 1st? grinding,,, maybee shorten the shift rod on the spline by a touch.
mike

Cheers, Im getting the tools out tomorrow so we'll see what we can come up with

Re read your post and confirming that all other gears are ok then make sure you dont loosen the pinch bolt on the splined coupling toooooooo much as you dont want to change the rotational alignment, remember that by shortening it say 1/16" it will make it travel further towards 1st and 3rd and 5th, if you go too much then it will have the same problem with rev,2nd and 4th, its a compromise and if the mechanism is in reasonable shape there is a fair bit of lee way, little and check is the best way
mike

Cheers for the advice. We played trial and error with it all afternoon and I think we got it damn near perfect with the allignment (i.e. first gear: gearshift shaft fully depressed and shift rod fully extended) but still no luck with the engagement (still getting that grinding not quite connecting sound). This leads me to believe it's an internal gearbox problem. Does anyone agree or disagree with this diagnosis and also does anyone have a recommended reconned gearbox dealer?

Cheers again

Colin

Aiden is the only one...

Only way I know short of removing the box is to take the linkage of the g'box end and engage 1st at the box and try it
mike

kevtherev wrote:Aiden is the only one...

What will we do when he has his hiatus?