1st Gear grind

[Spyda]

I drive Golfs by keeping the revs up and using the gears to slow down.
Except first gear. It is a delicate thing like reverse. My Driving instructior told me that it is only for moving the car from a stand still.

There are a few linkages and bushes that can be the culprit.
Look down behind the exhaust on the subframe where there is a little metal box with a ball or a white plastic flower thing in the middle of it.
If you have the plastic showing and no ball, you can slip a piece of hose the right size over it to replicate the ball to get the slop out. Or you can buy the rod with the ball on from VW for $120 or something like that.

Thanks man

Does it have anything to do with this:

http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=3126584

[Golf Loon]

In the 4th pic there is the relay shaft with a ball on it.
Check your one looks like that and is not missing the rubber ball part.
The rest of the linkage kit is mostly fine tuning. The ball and correct adjustment should be sufficient mostly.

[twin eng, twin turbs]

I wont be driving like that anymore. I simply didnt know, no one ever told me, i only ever drove manual with the instructor and my uncle.

What do you rekon it will cost, ive found the syncro for 1st for about $15, but how much for a pro to put it in?

I have pulled down three five speeds over the years and replaced 1st and 2nd gears, the syncromesh, bearings and seals in one box and the other two boxes were too screwed to use again. Its a hard job and a bit to get your head around but if your up to it took me around 8hrs. A gearbox specialist would charge at least $500 + to do it probably a lot more, so its maybe worth while getting a good second hand one for the right money instead if its not the linkage worn out causing the issue...

[Spyda]

In the 4th pic there is the relay shaft with a ball on it.
Check your one looks like that and is not missing the rubber ball part.
The rest of the linkage kit is mostly fine tuning. The ball and correct adjustment should be sufficient mostly.

I got my alignment tool today, slaped it on and aligned the shifter. While i was doing this i noticed the "big red bush" that holds the gear shaft is practicly dust and alows for alot of movement of the shaft, it was prity dark so i didnt notice the larger ruber ball much (relay shaft bush?). Due to the play in the shaft, even with the alignment tool, it still wasnt aligned properly and when i put it in revers and got the car out of the drive way, i went for first and everything was loose like i didnt tigheten the clamp. then i noticed a ball rolling away down my court.......

The relay shaft bush is mashed and due to the incorect alignment it comes out of its holster and falls off.

I aligned it again makeing sure that it wouldnt fall out again and everything is good, still hard to get it in to reverce and 1st but everything is where it should be.

I took a look at all the bushes and found that they are all farked, so i guess most of the problems with shifting are due to that. Ill get one of thouse repair kits and see what happens.

I have pulled down three five speeds over the years and replaced 1st and 2nd gears, the syncromesh, bearings and seals in one box and the other two boxes were too screwed to use again. Its a hard job and a bit to get your head around but if your up to it took me around 8hrs. A gearbox specialist would charge at least $500 + to do it probably a lot more, so its maybe worth while getting a good second hand one for the right money instead if its not the linkage worn out causing the issue...

HAHA thats around about what this box cost me. I doubt its the box as it came from Matt. My stupid shifting f-ed up first gear and my mechanic most likely did the rest.

[golfmeup]

i never down shift from second to first mate!

1st gear is crawling speed and changing from a higher gear to 1st will only hurt the engine.

unless your close to stopping speed, you should be able to roll in 2nd gear and pull away smoothly with out a problem.
Second gear is very forgiving and wont hurt your box.