Transmission Lube

@Michael McKelvey posted:

Shifting is a little harder than I would like.  Maybe this is solely due to the shorter throw of the Vintage Speed shifter.

But, I am wondering if a different lube might make a difference. Currently, I am using Swepco 201.

Try Redline 75W 90. It made a big difference in the shifting of an AISIN gearbox I had years ago. My first to second gear shift was sometimes "crunchy",  but the Redline fixed that problem.

Jason

I have been considering the Red Line lube.  There were a lot of mixed for and against comments on theSamba.

Some said it is intended for transmissions, not transaxles with R&P.

Maybe adjust the shifter a lil bit.

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I would take Ed's advice before doing anything more troublesome.

The Vintage shifter can be fiddly getting just right and usually takes more than one or three tries.

It may seem obvious but there's more to move about than one might guess. The shifter base itself, the 'stop' plate underneath it, yeah, but both can be moved left, right, north and south, and displaced relative to each other in any of those directions. Then there's the matter of getting both of those parallel to the centerline of the car. Or, your particular transaxle may want everything not quite parallel to the centerline.

There's also the matter of getting the base directly on the metal of the tunnel. Any carpeting at all in between can screw up the alignment.

All that said, I have found that this transaxle, more than any other manual I've owned, shifts a lot better when I rev match carefully and have made nailing that with each shift a little game as I drive.

I remember Redline being something of a holy grail back in my Miata days (although I never resorted to using it) and have also thought of trying it in the Speedster, but I notice very few VW folks mention it at all.

Anyway, try a few adjustment tweaks first. They're free, a lot easier to do, and you may make some great discoveries.

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I'm not a fan of Redline. Swepco is good stuff. I've also had good luck with Amsoil.

Take Mitch's advice, and adjust that bitch.

The Motul gear lube for non-LSD transaxles makes mine shift like butter. Non-synth GEARBOX 300, IIRC. The Motul website product finder is great.

LAT 80w90 from Rancho, or Swepco  (which you are already using) so I'd check for adjustment and worn/loose parts first.

This video came up in my Youtube feed and I thought it might fit well here.  step by step "How To" on building a Rancho VW transaxle.

@Gordon Nichols posted:

This video came up in my Youtube feed and I thought it might fit well here.  step by step "How To" on building a Rancho VW transaxle.

Wait, I saw that one: "Pull transaxle, send to @DannyP"

Thanks Gordon. One more thing I won't be building.