I have a cmc and the shift lever will spin when I move it. It is not a terrible issue but one that bugs me since my knob has a shift pattern on it and it is seldom in the correct position.
I am requesting assistance in where to troubleshoot and what part might fix the problem.
renfrance
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If you remove the shift lever by removing the mounting bolts in the base, the entire lever/base should lift right off of the tunnel. Do this slowly and look at the ball on the bottom of the shift lever (the part that fits into the cup of the horizontal shift rod).
There should be a small round pin sticking out of the side of that ball at the bottom and that pin, if it’s there, fits into a corresponding slot in the cup at the front end of the shift rod. Once engaged and the shift lever replaced, that pin prevents the shift lever from spinning around and keeps your shift pattern always in the right orientation.
I suspect that somehow, that pin on your shift lever has either sheared off or, most likely if it is an original VW lever from a donor car, fallen out and down to the bottom of the central tunnel.
So……. you could put a magnet down through the shifter hole and fish around a bit to see if it picks up the wayward pin so you can replace it. If you don’t find it that way, you can do one of two things; (1.) you could try to find a replacement pin at a local hardware store. It should be a solid metal pin and be a force fit, meaning you have to tap it in with a small hammer. After it’s in I would peen around the pin (two sides) with a pointed cold chisel to crimp the pin in place, but tapping it in forcefully with a hammer should be enough to keep it in place.
or (2.) you could simply replace the shift lever entirely and be done with it.
If the entire shifter rotates the pin that secures the shifter in the shift rod cup slot in the base of the shifter is missing, broken etc.
^^^That’s the reader’s digest version
@Renfrance do your self a favor and replace the plastic shift bushing with the EV4U brass bushing in the shift hanger...good for the life of the car...then, if your shift rod is still round and not WORE OUT....order a vintage speed shifter with the PORSCHE bushing...your shifting problems will be a painful memory and you will enjoy SMILES for MILES 
trust me!
Thank you for the information regarding the fix. Is the shift bushing accessible by removing the shift lever or is it in the tunnel?
the shift bushing is in the tunnel...the kit comes with the special tool...fiddly but doable...there are videos explaining the procedure on youtube or on EV4U website
Thanks to all of you who took the time to provide the responses. I am pretty sure I have a pin missing in the ball of the shifter as was mentioned. You all are a fantastic source to keep the speedsters on the road.
Just to add, if your pan is a 1968 vw, they didn't have a pin in the ball. It was a straight shift lever and would just spin in the socket. I found this out went I installed a Hurst shift handle back in High School. It did come in handy when i was parked with my girlfriend. I just put it in first and spin it out of the way. Didn't find out about the pin till later working on buggies.
my girlfriend of 22 yrs says Im missing a pin or two,should i be worried?
@barncobob She's with you. Could it be she who is missing the pin? LOL!
She is now in the “she shed”!
The installation tool for the brass bushing is pretty much essential. But, it seems expensive for what you get.
I am willing to lend mine to anyone who pays postage both ways.
Thank you.
Shifter pin on first ten miles dislodges.. It was as if I was in neutral all the time. My first of many tows..Why would this happen. I have owned10 vws and two real 356 back in the 70s
Never happened
..
