Autostick shifter plate question

[sb001]

Hey all-- I'm posting this for a fellow autostick owner over on the samba who is having trouble registering here (if any admins can help out with this issue, he says he gets an error message every time he tries.)

Anyway he is having trouble shifting into low and reverse (Drive 1 and Drive 2 are fine.)
I suggested he take a look at his shifter plate and he found what appears to be a crack in it, here are a few pics:





It also looks like a crack to me but I am not sure whether the shifter plate is actually supposed to be like that, with the diagonal "stop" tab pushed up a bit like that. Believe it or not I have actually never looked at mine to have a comparison, but I don't remember seeing a slit like that in the autostick plates I've seen online. We just want to be sure that that is an actual crack (that is not supposed to be there) before he orders a new one.
(Funny thing is, I found one on bugcity's website but the picture of it shows the SAME crack, which is why I am a bit confused.)
Thanks for any help in advance (and if someone can help him get regsitered here that would be great.)

[sb001]

Anyone??

[68autobug]

Anyone??

Apologies for delay. I thought that it showed a crack too but I have a brand new autostick plate here and it is identical to Your photo.
I believe His problem is the small nylon bushing below the back bolt that holds the plate in has worn out... they were original a round bushing but most have failed and been replaced by now. The replacements are now split so You can clip them over and a ring clip holds them onto the shaft that goes back to the gearbox. When it wears out the shaft can drop down slightly which means it  is probably already dropped too far, so the bushing needs replacing. The nylon bush and clip are one of the cheapest things You can buy for Your VW but its  a fiddly job, but doable..  So the plate is OK...  The plates are probably hard to find new or used as they are left in the chassis if its scrapped.. The white nylon bush is available from CIP1 - C24-111-701-259 a set $6-99  Shift rod Bushing with Clip.  Hopefully that should fix the problem.

Lee   68autobug  Australia

[68autobug]

Well, I just noticed your side view pic and My New plate is raised much more than your used plate.
from the bottom of the plate up to the top of the highest piece [peak] measures 11 1/2 mms so maybe that one has been pushed down too hard by somebody. That would have a similar effect to the worn bushing... Seeing He has it apart I would suggest He may as well replace the bushing too.. then cover it all in Lithium based MOLY grease...

Fellow trying to join , He maybe using a name etc that has been used here before???  or a name that will not register with the Simple Machines guidelines....
Tell them to try different names and if that doesn't work try someone elses computer. I had a problem recently with purchasing something from a private home, and My emails never ever went thru, but I had a Brother send them [about 10 emails] and they all went thru and they could receive all his reply emails but I couldn't..

cheers

Lee  Noonan  68Autobug  Australia

[sb001]

Thanks for this info Lee! I will pass it on to the other party as well as the suggestions for getting registered here.

[68autobug]

I believe there had been a very strong gear shifter pushing down on that plate at some time. It would take some pushing effort to actually bend that factory bent plate.
I presume the plate could be bent or stretched back out?? so it will work correctly. maybe a little bit of welding to keep it open correctly??


Lee