So - I replaced my shift bushings on the shift rods only to find out my shifting still has an oddball quirk to it that I want to track down, and I could use your help, please!

As I understand it, there are three bushings within the 4-speed manual shifter assembly that commonly fail:

115-267-06-76: rectangular-ish washer (30)
115-267-22-50: dampening bushing (13)
115-267-07-50: tophat bushing (23)

See photo for blow up and part/diagram numbers.



I am having an issue where sometimes it is difficult to get the car into first gear from neutral - and by difficult, I mean that it feels as if I have to get the shifter in just the right way to get it smoothly into first - if it doesn’t just fall right into first, it feels as if I’m caught on an “edge” of something and I can give it a little push and it’ll be in first no problem. I have a picture here to try to describe what I’m feeling:
Sometimes it just slides right into first fully and it’s smooth as butter, but other times I kind of push it through the second half before beginning to give it gas and begin releasing the clutch. Rather than pushing it through, I can also just go back to neutral, give it a little right/left play, then try to re-engage first gear and often it’ll slide right into first smoothly if I’m patient.

Also, when shifting to second gear, sometimes I can sort of feel the gears moving just as I drop it into second - like I can feel it catch maybe? Never any grinding or “pushing in through like in first gear, but it’s as if I can feel it catch, which is strange to me.

Third and fourth and reverse are just fine.

I don’t have slop in the shifter, it has very good spring action to the right from 2 to 3, the reverse pull up spring is fine, but it’s just that weird almost narrowing feeling first gear engagement and then the slight momentary gear grabbing sensation shifting into second. It kinda had me think that part 30 (the rectangle-ish washer that I believe is the safety to keep you from getting reverse when downshifting over to 1-2) washer was blown up, but I’m not sure.

I jumped to thinking the shifter assembly needed to be removed, cleaned, and re-bushed, but I’m not getting other warning signs that this is needed. Maybe my shift rods need adjusting? Worn synchros? Maybe I’m just not driving the car that well with my footwork?!

Lastly, if anyone is even remotely near Cincinnati and would be kind enough to potentially wrench with me sometime, I’d love to learn more and get the benefit of some time honored W123 wisdom! I’d be happy to provide lunch/dinner/beers and a six pack for the road!




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