MK2/MK3 shift linkage

[JT Turbo]

My original transmission died (91 Jetta TD), and the replacement is a Mk3 gasser. The guy I bought it from has lots of experience with these and took the 5th gear from my old unit and installed in the one gas one.

I had the motor out for a rebuild and installed this transmission to it no problem, but never thought to row through the gears.  Now that everything is installed, I can't engage 5th, even with all the linkage disconnected and physically moving the selector shaft. 1 - 4 work fine.  I told the guy, but he won't even look at it, and insists that I my existing Mk2 shift linkage is the problem and that installing Mk3 linkage is the cure-all.

Aren't they the same tho?

[R.O.R-2.0]

if you cant make 5th gear work, and theres no linkages, then its internal. afaik, the mk2 and mk3 shifter shafts are the same.

[JT Turbo]

I'm inclined to agree with you about it being an internal issue.

I called a local VW parts store and they said the linkage arms are different, so I'm going to get the Mk3 type to humour the guy who sold me the transmission.

[Quantum TD]

The only difference in the parts is that the MK3 throw rod is weighted. They are exactly the same otherwise.

Sounds like he didn't adjust the 5th gear properly. In order to do so, you need to set its depth in relation to other gears. Hard to explain, but it should be covered in the Bentley manual. Here's hoping its something as simple as an adjustment.

[JT Turbo]

I got new Mk3 linkage arms. The long one is the same length, the short one is about 1cm shorter. When the new short one is installed (little white plastic arm behind the selector shaft), you have to pretend to want reverse in order to get first if you don't realign the shifter. I still can't get 5th though there is now plenty of shift range to look for it.

The Bentley talks about a 5th gear lockout plunger to adjust, but both these transmissions just have a vent where that should be.

I'm just going to take it to a shop to have them inspect it.

[the caveman]

Can you engage it right at the transmission ? I also think the adjustment at 5 th is wrong

[nathan_b]

mk2/3 linkage is different NOT because of the trans, but because it's ina  different car, with different dimensions...

always use linkage pertinent to your car with an 020

personally, if ANY of my cars with 020s fail (all at the moment), they WILL get a nice alh 02a setup.

[macka]

mk2/3 linkage is different NOT because of the trans, but because it's ina  different car, with different dimensions...

always use linkage pertinent to your car with an 020

personally, if ANY of my cars with 020s fail (all at the moment), they WILL get a nice alh 02a setup.

the mk3 weighted shifter works perfectly in the mk2, in fact it improves the shifting if all the other parts are in decent shape.

[JT Turbo]

I took the car to a local transmission shop. This guy was pretty clueless (I really wanted to punch him for his ignorance, considering he's supposed to be the expert) but he did manage to get 5th to engage, though it was quite tight. I don't really know what he did, but he suggested that it would 'break in' after some driving and loosen up. I've driven about 1000km since then and I suppose it has become easier to shift, but not much. The car drives fine in 5th, no whine or howl etc, just harder to get in and out than it should be.

When shifting out of 5th, it will go to 4th no problem - but if you try to downshift straight to 3rd it's almost impossible to engage it.  Going to 4th seems to bring alignment and the lower gears then shift as they should.

Another note about using the shorter Mk3 link piece is that it causes a longer lateral throw of the shifter in the car. A longer piece in this position will result in shorter throw side-to-side.

So I don't know... it does drive and I can drive it, but its not quite right and I hate having to give driving caveats to anyone who might need to drive it.

Oh well. wtf.

[rallydiesel]

Definitely sounds like he didn't adjust the fifth shift fork properly. It should not need to "break in". In fact, if it is difficult to get into fifth , you are just prematurely wearing out the fifth syncro ring. In order to adjust the fifth gear fork, you only need to remove the fifth housing, not split the entire trans case.

[Vangruver]

www.brokevw.com

[vanagonturbo]

This is a pretty classic mistake. Take the 5th gear slider ring (the part that engages 5th) and put it on rightside up. It was put in upside down. On one side of the slider the teeth are tapered to engage with the synchro. the other side the teeth are flat and will make it VERY difficult to engage the gear. Take the TOB housing off, remove the fork (DO NOT PULL ON THE ROD THAT GOES THROUGH THE SHAFT), flip the slider over, adjust to 5mm depth on the screw shaft, enjoy easy shifting. Done.