Hello GTI people I was recommended by a Mr.loops in the VWVortex forum, to post my question on here, as it seemed some of you are specialists in the matter at hand. I own a Volkswagen Derby S from 1980 mk1 facelift (square headlights). The car is an 1.1 l. (engine code: HB) 50 Hp with the standard 4 speed transmission, the car is 37 years old which means the gear linkage bushings is starting to be worn out, resulting in 1. gear is hard and sometimes impossible to engage. Therefore, they need to be replaced. I have searched for these bushings on both vwheritage.com, werk34.com and vw classic parts without luck, and the only name I have for them is "UJ-bushing" according to the Haynes manual, but since the UJ probably stands for Universal Joint, it hasn't helped me any further. Has anyone else encounter this problem and how did you solve it? I know that the car is identical to the Polo mk1, but I haven't been able to find a similar linkage from there. I am also told that it shares its transmission with the Golf and Caddy, could it be possible to fit a linkage from one of them? I would love to add/attach/show a picture, if someone could tell me how to do so... A while back, I meet an elder gentleman from the Danish Polo club that mentioned it should be possible to refit a linkage from the Polo 86C, but I haven't found any confirmation on this on their homepage or on this site. I work as a blacksmith so I know the way around an angle grinder, but I usually have two condition when working on the car: 1. I do have access to borrow a lift in a shop, but not on a regular basis. Meaning that when I use it, I must be able to drive the car home later same evening. 2. And I have a rule about, whenever I alter or replace something, it needs to be reversible, so if I ever feel like it, the whole car can be changed back to factory condition. Any information, experience, webpages and other form of help is much appreciated. Best regards Kasper Nielsen, an otherwise happy owner from Denmark
Hello and welcome! First thing to check, if you grab the gearstick and lift it upwards is there any play? If so the housing under the gearstick is worn out, this makes 1st and reverse tricky to select. This part is actually the same as found on the mk2 and mk3 golf, its NLA from the dealer but still readily available on ebay/gsf etc. If you have a look at my mk2 linkage repair guide the 2nd part covers the repair, it should be quite similar on a polo. Part number is 191798116A, heres a febi one I found after a quick search: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/202139743901 as for the main selector, its totally different in design to the later stuff and all the parts are NLA. I would have thought the later polo parts will swap right over, but you've still got to find them first! What you might be able to do is split it all down and investigate all the bushes to find where the play is, then make/buy new bushes to suit. someone like Hotgolf on here aka Martin Emment/gas n gears on facebook is well known for his lovely mk2 solid rod and bearing kits so if anyone can sort you out its him!
#2 Hi John and thank you for the greeting. I don't remember there being any play in the shifter up and downwards, but I'll check for it when I get home. Last time the car was on a lift, I realised there is a lot of play in this part of the linkage: And when I tightened the metal clamp surrounding the bushing with a pincer, it solved the problem temporarily, until the metal straightened out back to original position. /Kasper N.
That part ws only available as a complete unit, no rebuild kit exists. you might be able to split it down and refurb it yourself? I've sent you a PM though
