Re: stuck in first -- what do you think?

Joey Tribiani wrote:

"Jan" <bugfuel@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message news:8atpdlFcapU1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Jim Ed wrote:
On Jul 19, 10:00 pm, griff <pauljohngrif...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Downshifting on a hill yesterday my bug stalled. Clutch in, she
started up no problem but its now stuck in first. Limped home at 8mph.

No luck.

I've heard of some mechanics using a coat hanger to do something in
there? or people "loosening the nose cone" to get the hockey stick
back into the shift selector.


thanks
-griff

Jan Anderson might be able to help you. He frequents this group.


Hi

Well this happened to my friend's bug that had been sitting for several years. I rebuilt the engine and on the first test drive, coming down a moderate grade real slow, the rear tires locked up. I think he just put it in first or was in between gear changes. Nothing would make it move, the rear was truly locked. I can't remember how the shifter itself behaved, I wasn't driving.

Anyways, after some head scratching, I grabbed the right side rear wheel in a big bear hug (I was 18 or so, so maybe a koala bear is more like it) and with all my might I started rocking it back and forth. You know how there's always a little play in the drivetrain? I just kept rocking it and told my friend to try and free up the gear selector, just by working the shifter back and forth while I rocked the rear wheel.
And whaddaya know, it unlocked itself and worked fine again.

Much like the folks in this group, the people present at that time thought I actually knew what I was doing. :)

a little more information, since it seems I didn't see the original thread, might be in order... does it lock up solid(like putting an automatic in "PARK") if you select third or forth gear?... had a 1-2 slider break inside the transaxle once and all I had was first gear, but putting it in third or forth would lock everything solid.... if this is the case, you are looking at a teardown and rebuild, at minimum...


Seems like his trans works, and car is driveable, but it is stuck in 1st gear. In my example, the whole trans was locked up and car would not move forward or back. (Two gears selected at the same time maybe?)

Here is the original message:

Downshifting on a hill yesterday my bug stalled. Clutch in, she
started up no problem but its now stuck in first. Limped home at 8mph.

Did my due diligence in the Bentley manual as well as the other six
books I have. No joy.
The shifter moves into every position *except* first. I get solid
resistance in that position.
I've looked online and in the back pages of this group and everywhere
on the net I could think of and here's what I've tried so far.

Pulled the refill oil plug on the transmission case.
Tried to pry the ring -- internet posts vary -- forward and backward
trying to get it to "pop into neutral".
No luck.

I've heard of some mechanics using a coat hanger to do something in
there? or people "loosening the nose cone" to get the hockey stick
back into the shift selector.

If I'm wasting my time, let me know and I'll order a rebuilt
(recommendations appreciated) but want to make sure I've exhausted the
options I have in my garage.
( I've never swapped out a motor/transmission before but being laid
off I have the time and my neighbor has a lift and as mentioned I have
the manuals and can get a BugMe video.)

thanks
-griff
.

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