Shifting Issues-HELP!!!!

[super72lilly]

I have a 1974 super beetle autostick and I've been having trouble with it shifting. It's intermittent what it does, which is why I can't seem to figure it out. What my car will do is get stuck in a gear and won't let me shift into another gear(like say from reverse into first). Typically what I have to do is shut the car off to shift it. It will go into gears just fine but when its in one it won't go into another. Same thing goes for coming to a stop. I've noticed when I come to a stop if the car is still moving pretty quickly it will downshift but when I am almost completely stopped it doesn't down shift at all. It almost seems like the clutch isn't fully engaging. Any ideas??? Thank you in advance!!

[68autobug]

Hi
well. Yes it sounds like the clutch isn't working... which means the clutch servo isn;t operating the clutch plate..
which means the control valve may not be getting power to operate the clutch servo...  and IF the vacuum tank is full of vacuum, or there are no leaking cracked vacuum hoses... or the switch in the bottom of the gear shifter hasn't sent a signal to the control valve to operate the clutch servo... to operate the clutch..

Have Your vacuum hoses been replaced?  as most of the originals are all now cracked and leaking...  so they should all be replaced with a good quality hose... You can still buy the original type hose at mercedes benz dealers..
but good quality transmission oil hose will do the job for a few years..  I used a USA made air brake hose called
POWAFLEX MULTI-PURPOSE 12.7MM       W.P 300 PSI..      I did use some of the same hose for an oil hose and it was 12.3mm ID and the pressure was more... but as We need vacuum hose... pressure doesn't matter..

The clutch servo bladder could be leaking but normally they just split open because they are so old... and there would be no clutch operation..    I'm guessing its a leaking hose allowing all the vacuum to leak out when the engine isn't revving.. that is why You can change gears at speed..  [engine revving]

with the car stopped.. engine turned off.. turn key ON.. You should be able to change gears about 8 times or more using the vacuum inside the vacuum tank...  You can hear the clutch servo working... this is normal...
So, I'm dismissing any electrical problems at the moment..

Let Me know what happens...   You can change all the hoses your self..  getting the old ones off will be the hardest part ...  use new hose clamps on the new hoses..

cheers

Lee in Australia