I give up (Shift Linkage)

[melville]

It looks like there is no bushing on the front of the shift rod, or like you've got an early front shift rod in a later chassis.

I've got a 71 and a 74 at home. I know there's a difference between them--the forward extension of the 71 is dowel-like, and about 10 or 12 mm in diameter. On the 74 it's about the same diameter as the rest of the shift rod.

I don't know when VW made the change, but somewhere between 71 and 74, obviously.

Anyway, if you've got early rod rattling around in late bushing, the rod could perhaps sink low enough to disengage. The forward extension should be a close fit, with maybe 1mm of play between it and the bushing if everything is reasonably fresh.

Also, some shifters have different depths when installed, although I think that only applies to split Buses. However, split and Bay bus shifters will bolt up to the other chassis. Have you installed a split bus shifter?

Good luck

Mel

[melville]

There is a bushing at the end of the rod and there is almost no play in it. It moves back and forth smoothly but not up and down.

This is the second shifter for the bus. The first one did the same thing and the new one is no different.

Yah I see the bushing now. I forgot that there's a male/female difference early to late.

The only thing I can think of now is shifter incompatibility OR perhaps some of the stuff of the shifter (spring, stop plate, housing) is missing or misinstalled. Do you have a spacer under the shifter like used in an old quick shift kit? There's something stone simple keeping your shifter from fully engaging the rod, just gotta find it. Can you rotate the shifter even when it hasn't popped out? I see the dowel pin is not in its slot in the forward shift rod.

Good luck

Mel

[raygreenwood]

Did you adjust the shifter and shift gate properly...before bolting the shift rod to the tranny tail rod? Ray