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the cassette trick (shifter alignment)

24816 Views 74 Replies 40 Participants Last post by  naterkane
2
it works perfect http://****************.com/smile/emthup.gif
that had to be the best piece of info i have search and tried. my car would not go into first gear due to the PO's hack job.
the rubber grommet on the selector ball was missing, and a few more bushings were missing. i relaced them all today and the car would not go into first gear at all without pushing down and bypassing the Reverse Lockout.
so after fixing all that crap and seeing first gear was a *****, i decided to read up on the "tricks" to adjusting the shifter.
here's what i did.
1. put car in neutral
2. remove shift knob and shift boot assembly
3. loosen clamp on shift rod closest to transmission (right in front of selector ball that the short shift bar bolts to)
4. wiggle stickshift side to side (not sure if this is neccesary, but i read it in one of the many threads i read today, so i gave it a shot. whoever original said it claimed it helps in breaking the clamp loose)
5. grab a cassette (to the yougins: a cassette is what everyone had for music before CDs and MP3 players)
6. remove cassette from it's case
7. look at cassete and note where the cassette is thicker (the part where the tape is exposed)
8. place the thick part between the plastic arm and lockout (have a friend hold it in place by putting pressure towards the drivers side of car so the cassette doesn't fall.
9. tighten clamp that you loosened in step 3
10. remove cassette
11. re-install shift boot and knob
12. test drive
13. feel satisfaction for a DIY well done
http://****************.com/smile/emthup.gif
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Re: the cassette trick (90_GLI)

you da man! http://****************.com/smile/emthup.gif
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Re: the cassette trick (jamaicula)

Quote, originally posted by jamaicula »
you da man! http://****************.com/smile/emthup.gif

i figured i'd do a write up cause i had to read about 30 threads and sift through the crap to get a straight answer.

this is alot easier
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Re: the cassette trick (90_GLI)

Quote, originally posted by 90_GLI »
8. place the thick part between the plastic arm and lockout (have a friend hold it in place by putting pressure towards the drivers side of car so the cassette doesn't fall.

i dont use a friend, i just bungee cord the shifter to the drivers door.
i have no friends
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2
Re: the cassette trick (90_GLI)

Good work. http://****************.com/smile/emthup.gif
Where the hell did you find a cassette tape though? Is it the Vanilla Ice tape you keep in the glovebox for when nobody is around?
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Re: the cassette trick (knappy)

Quote, originally posted by knappy »
Good work. http://****************.com/smile/emthup.gif
Where the hell did you find a cassette tape though? Is it the Vanilla Ice tape you keep in the glovebox for when nobody is around?

i haven't owned a cassette in at least 10 years...LOL
it was hard to find one, but Teresa found one for me
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Re: the cassette trick (90_GLI)

Quote, originally posted by 90_GLI »

i haven't owned a cassette in at least 10 years...LOL
it was hard to find one, but Teresa found one for me

uh oh. She got Vanilla Ice? I always knew women had secrets.
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Re: the cassette trick (knappy)

Quote, originally posted by knappy »
uh oh. She got Vanilla Ice? I always knew women had secrets.

i think it was Barney's greatest hits
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Re: the cassette trick (90_GLI)

Quote, originally posted by 90_GLI »

i think it was Barney's greatest hits

YES!!!!!!
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Re: the cassette trick (knappy)

y'all are funny
i have a 2 live crew tape that i use........ohhhhhhh ya
Re: (GutlessLump)

i just had my brother hold it in the position i eyeballed
luckily it worked perfect the first time
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4
Re: (4)



I used a book only because with the thick end of the casette, it was too far to the right, and with the thinner end, it was too far to the left.
To loosen the clamp, I get into the car and throw the shifter around in circles
gets things nice and loose, go back to the trans, make sure it's in neutral still, then align.
Make sure front-back alignment is done as well, by aligning the reverse lockout arm on the shifter with the notch int he plate. http://****************.com/smile/emthup.gif
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Re: the cassette trick (90_GLI)

should i do this wven though my car goes into first ok..just when its cold, it doesnt want to
Re: the cassette trick (19jetta91)

Quote, originally posted by 19jetta91 »
should i do this wven though my car goes into first ok..just when its cold, it doesnt want to

Nope. That would be because of the oil in your tranny. Select a lighter weight.
Re: the cassette trick (Funkatollah Insaney)

thanks
Re: the cassette trick (90_GLI)

Quote, originally posted by 90_GLI »

8. place the thick part between the plastic arm and lockout (have a friend hold it in place by putting pressure towards the drivers side of car so the cassette doesn't fall.

i dont understand this part, i'll need to look at it in the morning. i need to try this trick out! http://****************.com/smile/emthup.gif
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Re: the cassette trick (90_GLI)

couldnt you just mark where the rod and clamp meet with a paint marker, so you could just put it back in the same place??????????
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Re: the cassette trick (vw fiend)

Quote, originally posted by vw fiend »

i dont understand this part, i'll need to look at it in the morning. i need to try this trick out! http://****************.com/smile/emthup.gif

THe fat end of the casette, the side witht eh tape showing... wedge it in between the reverse lockout plate (white plastic on the driver's side of the shift box) and the reverse lockout arm (extendeing towards the driver's seat off of the shift lever).
Quote, originally posted by tdub785 »
couldnt you just mark where the rod and clamp meet with a paint marker, so you could just put it back in the same place??????????

If the rod and clamp are misaligned, this re-aligns them. WHy would you be loosening the clamp unless you were aligning it?
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Re: the cassette trick (VDub2625)

isnt an ipod about the same dimensions as a cassette? (for the younger crowd
)
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