Gear box problems

[shaolindan]

The gear box on '90 GTi I bought recently isn't great. This was very evident when I came out of hospital after surgery (k-wires in my fingers for two fractures) and the missis called me to say she was parked near the hospital but couldn't turn the car round as it wouldn't engage into reverse. With a broken left elbow and two fractured fingers in my right hand, i couldn't get it in to reverse at all!

My garage has it and basically said the 'golf-ball' in the linkage needs to be replaced. Doing some reading up on this, does anyone have any experience of this?
http://www.vwheritage.com/bbt/Hand-Foot-Controls%5CUSRT-Shifters%5C?templateID=bbt

Would it be worth ordering one and fitting, or just letting the garage replace the stock parts?

I'm leaning towards the modern version as I found a plate and golf-ball, broken, in the glove box so it would appear to have had this problem before.

[humber]

My '91 GTi 8v has 182K on the clock. Gear selection has been giving me difficulty for some years now and several times I've replaced linkage parts as first gear has become unselectable. Now I'm going for an all out assault with a new linkage replacement from TSR Performance http://www.tsr-performance.com/pages/linkage.asp which I anticipate will cure it once and for all. I'll let you know what the outcome is next week

[shaolindan]

That'll be great if you could.
I'm looking at this at the moment.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200448987546&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

But I'm also thinking that this might be an idea
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120546993261&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

Though
http://www.vwheritage.com/bbt/Hand-Foot-Controls%5CUSRT-Shifters%5C?templateID=bbt
as I mentioned is a thought.
I'll be interested to know how your kit works for you.

[midz16v]

Ive just done the whole linkage with new bushes etc from the same seller on ebay,all i can say is its like having a new gearbox.I had a set of tsr link rods and took them off as i found the original ones felt much better

[shaolindan]

Ive just done the whole linkage with new bushes etc from the same seller on ebay,all i can say is its like having a new gearbox.I had a set of tsr link rods and took them off as i found the original ones felt much better

What was the difference in feel between the TSR and the ebay kit?
Is there a change in shift/selection length?
Is the selection easier?

[weazgti]

get a weghted shift rod off a mk3 at the same time, makes it loads better.

[shaolindan]

get a weghted shift rod off a mk3 at the same time, makes it loads better.

I thought all GTi's had a weighted shift rod?
I also thought the mk3 was the same as the mk2?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/MK2-MK3-Golf-GTI-Weighted-Gear-Shift-Rod_W0QQitemZ150424310742QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM?hash=item2305fcd3d6

[midz16v]

Ive just done the whole linkage with new bushes etc from the same seller on ebay,all i can say is its like having a new gearbox.I had a set of tsr link rods and took them off as i found the original ones felt much better

What was the difference in feel between the TSR and the ebay kit?
Is there a change in shift/selection length?
Is the selection easier?

The tsr ones are adjustable standard ones arent,i found with the tsr ones the gear selection was worse but i had worn bushes.
Couldn't get 1st which was a nightmare at junctions etc.
When i took the original vw ones off i set the tsr ones to the same lenth,imo i would stick with standard ones and get a new bush kit etc on bushes only took an hour or so and what a difference and a complete kit will be cheaper than 3 rods.
Wieghted rods only standard on mk3's but a straight fit on mk2's

[midz16v]

Have a look at this
http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=33100.0

[shaolindan]

Have a look at this
http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=33100.0

That's brilliant. I have ordered the complete brush kit and the weighted shift rod. Thanks you have been a great help. Good to see that Fife enjoys a good Dub. A guy I work with is from Fife, (used to be in a rock band then became a record producer...) so if you know any Fairleys....

Thanks again. I will let you know how it goes.