We are trying to sort out the rubbish gear change on the golf and since doing some research I’m wondering if we are missing a part off the shift tower? A big “golf club” like part? If it is missing would it make much difference if it was put on?
So in the diagram why does one have one and the other not? Also, how much difference does that weight make?
Here is a picture of the o2a from 1997. It doesn’t show two towers. A couple of threads I’ve seen say some people run it, some take it off and there isn’t much difference
The weight isn't there for show, I reccon it helps getting it into gear or taking vibrations out or something.
Part number 44 has an extra tab for the weight to bolt on ,think it was an upgrade as my o2A (1989 Corrado) doesn't have that tab ,could be a model or model application specific I don't know, presume you have to change the whole assembly ?
earlier 02a dont have the weight at all, and there are a couple styles of selector arm which take different types of weight. you have the 'mk3' arm which takes weight 1H0711188B
The weight helps with inertia, even on the mk3 020 boxes they had a weight which you could fit to a mk2.
All the mk2 VR6s I've driven that kept the 02A gear shifter assemblies felt poor, I used a mk1 Octavia 02J tower in the box and a mk4 R32 sfifter and cables .
As above, not all boxes came with the counterweight on the arm. And, you can’t fit it to some of them either unless you change the splined arm. As Gary has said, fit the 02j tower/cables or do a full rebuild on your tower changing the crappy inner bearing for a bronze bush.
Right then, I don’t know what’s going on but I am having brain spasms. The photos in the first post aren’t even of our car Our car does not have the right fitting to take the weight after all that The part number for our shift tower is 02A945413B. The tower that Lee sent me is 02A945413C which does have the fitting for the weight. Are these simply the part number for reverse light switches for different models? I also have some bits of a tower and strangely enough there is no part number on this one. The following pictures are of the tower Lee sent me. Here you can see where the weight attaches. Note this plastic contraption, more on this in a second. What is this big nut for, does it allow access to something? Here are the spare bits I have. This part is fitted where the plastic contraption is above. However, this is metal and doesn’t stick up as far as the plastic one. It seems altogether more robust. What is it from? Is this the bearing that needs to be replaced by the aforementioned bronze one? My brain hurts now so I’m going to do some hoovering and dusting.
Ok, so a little more research reveals that this….. is an aftermarket “short” shift which replaces the plastic contraption above, much like this https://www.gruvenparts.com/02a-billet-stainless-vw-shift-cable-repair-parts/ This is potentially a bit of a bonus as it was free and an “upgrade” on the stock part. The only thing I’m not sure about is the method of cable connection. That bolt does not look like it will do the job properly of holding the cable while allowing it to rotate freely. Some further investigation needed.
maybe theres a large washer missing from the bolt, as is the cable will likely just slip off the end. easy fix when its all together anyway thats also the mk3 style which uses the weight part number I mention. you could fit an early MK4 02J lever+weight, that'll also function as a short shift as the cable attachment is closer to the tower. its a bit of a fiddle to fit on a 02 tower but it does go in. as the man says though maybe think about late 02J setup
