Gear change - what's normal?

[Cuban Breeze]

New early bay owners - EMPI gear change, brand new restoration bus, restorer and team have no issues with gear change but I can't find first or second gear easily, worst case is dropping from third to second. Help should it be this hard?
PS Only driven it for 2 days...

 

[68_early_bay]

Just stick with it, you've only had it 2 days these bays are over 40 years old and you properly used to a modern vehicles gear change, you'll get used to it :lol: the restorer has properly drove loads of them and it's second nature to him


Shaun

 

[Cuban Breeze]

Thanks for the kindly advice! Circumstances probably not helped - came back with the bus for the first time yesterday (and the first time I've driven one) through Nottingham rush hour/double bank holiday delight, then today a quick trip to friends ended up with a detour of two hours and most of Derbyshire's biggest climbs due to accident on A50. And it rained! How long before I stop swearing?

 

[Graham L]

Shouldn't be that bad, have they replaced all the bushes in the gear linkage?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Cuban Breeze]

I'm assuming "yes" as I supplied the new bushes, but... Thirrd and fourth are a doddle and reverse is OK. Just about to head off for a late dinner, back on line tomorrow, would value any input. I'm probably in need of an experienced second opinion and am close to Derby and thought of asking Slamwerks(?) to try it.

 

[68_early_bay]

If it is down to not being used to it, should only take a few trips to get used to it, but if not and if the bushes HAVE been changed , problems with 1st and 2nd could mean the gear stick needs loosening at the bottom and move the whole lot to the right more , took me a while to set my empi up to my liking

 

[Doris]

Even when set up correctly,old VW's gear change is renown for being not quite as slick as more modern vehicles...hence the expressions developed such as"grab n guess" or "like a stick in porridge":grin:

Don't worry too much just yet,if its the first time you've driven one,as been said,you'll get it after a couple o days ;-)

 

[ZedBed]

Even when set up correctly,old VW's gear change is renown for being not quite as slick as more modern vehicles...hence the expressions developed such as"grab n guess" or "like a stick in porridge":grin:

Mines great, goes into every gear without a problem. Even into first while still rolling and will go into 2nd and 30mph. I've driven loads and this is quite unusual. :lol:

 

[Geeze]

If the gearchange is good in the other gears, it may be the gearlever itself.
Personal bias, but have had issues with the EMPI shifters in the past not getting all four gears properly.... :msn4:

 

[the_troupster]

Dito 68_early_bay and lol @ Zed, first gear whilst rolling hey? That could be handy...

Jim

 

[ZedBed]

Dito 68_early_bay and lol @ Zed, first gear whilst rolling hey? That could be handy...

Jim

I don't like to though - might wear it out, :lol: and into 2nd from 3rd at 30 first time every time is a novelty I have yet to tire of.

 

[Geeze]

Dito 68_early_bay and lol @ Zed, first gear whilst rolling hey? That could be handy...

Jim

I don't like to though - might wear it out, :lol: and into 2nd from 3rd at 30 first time every time is a novelty I have yet to tire of.

Not sure have ever tried 1st gear whilst rolling, if it's rolling it needs 2nd anyway...! :lol:

 

[ZedBed]

Dito 68_early_bay and lol @ Zed, first gear whilst rolling hey? That could be handy...

Jim

I don't like to though - might wear it out, :lol: and into 2nd from 3rd at 30 first time every time is a novelty I have yet to tire of.

Not sure have ever tried 1st gear whilst rolling, if it's rolling it needs 2nd anyway...! :lol:

Gotta get ready when you're coming to a halt though innit. More ciggy rolling time.

 

[Geeze]

Not sure have ever tried 1st gear whilst rolling, if it's rolling it needs 2nd anyway...! :lol:

Gotta get ready when you're coming to a halt though innit. More ciggy rolling time.

Cheat. Nice old fashioned art deco ciggy case from the flea market and roll a few before I go out

 

[Cuban Breeze]

Thanks for all the advice, I'll battle on and may seek out a more experienced driver and see what they think as well. If they confirm it's me that's the issue, well, think I can cope! Cigarette rolling is clearly something I need to start (if not the smoking) - the amount of time to allow the engine to warm up from cold was described to me as "roll a smoke, smoke it, then you're ready". Gotta get into this.

 

[LeeZee]

I've just had mine all apart to fit a narrowed beam and we had the drop the linkage. Since we put it back together I'm struggling to get first and second. I'm guessing something isn't quiet in the right position will have a play about with it next week. I have one of those scat shifters.

 

[geenjay]

i get the passenger to do 1st and 2nd then swing the gear lever right so i can do 3rd and 4th..... :lol:

 

[K@rlos]

A stock VW gear change is pretty vague tbh, I upgraded to an Empi shifter within a month which made it lovely to drive about town. Ran that for 4 years, got a CSP about a month ago and that is in league of it's own!

No matter how bad a bus is, it's alot better than going through central London in a Volvo FH12 with a 12 speed spiltter box :-@

 

[ZedBed]

The roll a ciggy thing is an amusing old wives tale. Get in, start it and drive is the best way to warm it up.

 

[geenjay]

A stock VW gear change is pretty vague tbh, I upgraded to an Empi shifter within a month which made it lovely to drive about town. Ran that for 4 years, got a CSP about a month ago and that is in league of it's own!

No matter how bad a bus is, it's alot better than going through central London in a Volvo FH12 with a 12 speed spiltter box :-@

:lol: i bet its not as much fun as an e,r,f 320 cummins and an eaton twin splitter... :evil: they just dont build em like that anymore......thank,,f@$£k :mrgreen: