78 Westy /Bus, tranny/shifter, cant down shift into 2nd
Posted: Sun Nov 24, 2013 6:35 am
OK I am a little stumped and need guidence before I move on. I searched shifter issues here but did not see a down shift issue....so here goes.
History : owned bus for ten years restoring along the way. The bus has always shifted fine. Gear and shifter rods always had a little play but never had issues with moving right into gear. Just had a new remanufactured engine installed (long story). Tranny and shifting mechanism was not touched during the engine install. Test drive at the shop was fine. Once home I began having an issue trying to get the 2nd gear to engage shifting up or down....
Went through the routine (Bentley, Haynes, forums) of checking and refreshing shift rods. I did find the shift coupler cage to be a bit twisted and bushings soft. Replaced the coupler with a good OEM German coupler. I also cleaned and refreshed the front two shift rod bushings with new moly. The bushings were still in good condition so I did not replace them with the cheap after market parts. Same with the shift rod O-ring bushing.....Original harder and thicker than replacement.
I cleaned and re-lubed the gear shift lever and shift rod cup. I have reinstalled following all the directions from the manuals several times with mixed results. On all occassions I could go into second gear with engin off. However, on one install I had no second gear when out for test......reinstalled and adjusted and can now shift all the way up with no issues, I can down shift into 3rd but can not down shift into 2nd. It just wont go in regardless how much I slow down. I have the same results regardless of the installation of the quick shift plate or not.
My question is ....Should I continue to work on adjustment? If so is there a trick I am missing.
Or does this issue sound as if I should be looking more toward the tranny ?
Any guidence would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Neal
History : owned bus for ten years restoring along the way. The bus has always shifted fine. Gear and shifter rods always had a little play but never had issues with moving right into gear. Just had a new remanufactured engine installed (long story). Tranny and shifting mechanism was not touched during the engine install. Test drive at the shop was fine. Once home I began having an issue trying to get the 2nd gear to engage shifting up or down....
Went through the routine (Bentley, Haynes, forums) of checking and refreshing shift rods. I did find the shift coupler cage to be a bit twisted and bushings soft. Replaced the coupler with a good OEM German coupler. I also cleaned and refreshed the front two shift rod bushings with new moly. The bushings were still in good condition so I did not replace them with the cheap after market parts. Same with the shift rod O-ring bushing.....Original harder and thicker than replacement.
I cleaned and re-lubed the gear shift lever and shift rod cup. I have reinstalled following all the directions from the manuals several times with mixed results. On all occassions I could go into second gear with engin off. However, on one install I had no second gear when out for test......reinstalled and adjusted and can now shift all the way up with no issues, I can down shift into 3rd but can not down shift into 2nd. It just wont go in regardless how much I slow down. I have the same results regardless of the installation of the quick shift plate or not.
My question is ....Should I continue to work on adjustment? If so is there a trick I am missing.
Or does this issue sound as if I should be looking more toward the tranny ?
Any guidence would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Neal