• Registered: 2011-03-29
  • Posts: 1

Topic: '71 Autostick lerches in 1st or R

Hi,
  I am not new to the VW bug world having owned 2 previous bugs, however this is my first autostick.  I just picked it up today and the guy I bought it from had no idea about it, never seen one before, he just picked up the bug for a good price to resell it.

  So it seems things are mechanically sound, I drove it 3 hours home.

  Can someone please clarify the proper way to drive these.  sorry if this seems like a really stupid question.  I was told it has three gears and to basically drive it like a normal manual shifting in all three gears up and down.  I see on the speedo there is indications that I assume correspond with the shifting but after driving normal manuals all my life I kinda shifted based on sound and performance.  I heard that for normal driving you can simply put it in 2nd gear and away you go without shifting at all if you dont need to go about 30-40mph.  I did successfully stop at lights and pull out in 2nd gear. 

  Basically I need to know if I am supposed to always start in 1st and go to 2nd and go to 3rd like a normal manual or should i only use 1st if needing the low gear and use only 2nd and 3rd for normal driving? 

  with that answered... I have what might be a problem or might not.  With the car off, in neutral, it starts right up and I shift into 1st, when it engages the car does a bit of a lerch and you know it is engaged.  I dont know if this is common or if it should shift smoothly like 1st to 2nd or 2nd to 3rd do.  also the same holds true for going into reverse.  If I am in neutral and shift into reverse i get the same little hop and a sound that its engaged.  Seems to be more abrupt then I would imagine it should be.

  I am very concerned that there is an issue and dont want to drive it until I get more info.

thanks in advance.

  • From: B.C.Canada
  • Registered: 2005-01-26
  • Posts: 2,610

Re: '71 Autostick lerches in 1st or R

I have a '71 Super. Here's the pages from the manual>

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/manuals/71bug/page32.jpg

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/manuals/71bug/page33.jpg

What condition are your rear inside vents on either side of the rear window? I have a source for new ones.

jim

'71 SB(DD only 79K(now 84K miles) & '78 FI Westy (project)
PO of '65 Beetle in '69, '70 Crewcab & '70 Ghia in '77
'71 Super inside rear vents now available
http://www.openroad.ca/volkswebbin/view … p?id=85915
  • From: Portage, Indiana
  • Registered: 2004-03-27
  • Posts: 454

Re: '71 Autostick lerches in 1st or R

The "lurch" you get could be caused by a few things, easy enough to check out. First check I would do is the clutch adjustment, there's a vacuum can on top of the trans with a threaded rod attached to the diaphragm inside it. Its been a couple few years since I owned an Autostick, so you'll have to buy the Bentley or look up the adjustment online, sorry. seems to me it was 4mm to 6mm?  If you can't find it or wont' buy the book, post back and i"ll dig mine out.

Secondly, there are two brass contacts in the shifter lever, top and bottom half, they need a specific gap to work well, again reference the manual...and finally, you need to make sure you have NO leaks in any of the vacuum tubing nor the vacuum tank under the rear fender. Also, the vaccum solenoid mounted on the rear firewall is adjustable, but I wouldn't mess with it until you have all other issues sorted out and set to spec.

I'd put my money on a clutch vacuum diaphram needing adjustment and/or a new clutch plate. Sorry I can't be more specific on the numbers, but I just don't remember...the info is easy to find, though.

  • From: Portage, Indiana
  • Registered: 2004-03-27
  • Posts: 454

Re: '71 Autostick lerches in 1st or R

PS yes you can drive around town all day in second, however I always preferred to drive it more like a manual, and use all the gears. I once had a dodge 3500 dually with a cummins that i could drive in 5th everywhere if i wanted, but it's just not good on the motor to do things like that smile

  • From: somewhere over the rainbow USA
  • Registered: 2006-07-26
  • Posts: 1,889

Re: '71 Autostick lerches in 1st or R

jamesdagg wrote:

What condition are your rear inside vents on either side of the rear window? I have a source for new ones.

jim

Isn't this a tad tacky wink

burrhead

A wise man makes his own decisions, an ignorant man follows public opinion.
  • From: B.C.Canada
  • Registered: 2005-01-26
  • Posts: 2,610

Re: '71 Autostick lerches in 1st or R

burrhead wrote:
jamesdagg wrote:

What condition are your rear inside vents on either side of the rear window? I have a source for new ones.

jim

Isn't this a tad tacky wink

I don't think so considering that I don't make any money on these. I had a shop make a mold of my vents before they crumbled and I do all the packing and shipping for nothing except the satisfaction of helping. Same reason I've posted over 8000 replies on forums smile

jim

'71 SB(DD only 79K(now 84K miles) & '78 FI Westy (project)
PO of '65 Beetle in '69, '70 Crewcab & '70 Ghia in '77
'71 Super inside rear vents now available
http://www.openroad.ca/volkswebbin/view … p?id=85915