Ok,, lets try to get this thread restored to here so that the information is TOGETHER..... when someone else needs it...

"purchased the bugger this way." --Janko

I just reread this thread... and caught this....

To me it says someone else has had the shifter mechanism APART... and did not put it back together properly... like without all the parts......

"but i can be tenacious" ---Janko...

Well, now is the time to start being that way... it may be tedious but you need to carefully take the shifting mechanism apart.. and while you are feeling tenacious... go back and get that last bushing installed... then when you get this fixed it will feel like a new car....

I also have this problem with the shifter in my 300GD. My shift lever also turns somewhat freely and that in itself drives me nuts. I have located the lever into the correct orientation and the friction of the boot keeps it from turning too much.

I can by pass the lock out by slightly turning the shift lever. I have taken the lever out and lubed everything but can't figure out wth is going on?

Any comments? Am I totally hooped here?

__________________
Greg
'73 416 UNIMOG DoKa
'85 300GD G Wagen

"Am I totally hooped here"---gsamuelson
Well, it appears you make ' number three' in that category.... at the very least, since no one else has posted with the 'fix'.....

my shift lever does not rotate. did drive a 79 240d over the weekend. that shift lever did rotate. and the reverse lockout was functional. as there was not boot on the 79 i did notice that the 79 and my 83 do differ somewhat as to the design of the shift mechanism. lethermang, although short one new bushing, the shifting is markedly improved with the two new bushings. and yes i know. i should not be so slovenly as to stop before i completed the job. thank you for the diagram provided earlier. believe that diagram represents the design found on the 79 mentioned above. and am reluctant to take more apart that what i did over the weekend. in fact do not know how to do further disassembly. thank you sir.

My car is a 1980... so it would not be certain that taking mine apart would be of help....
Anyone know when the change was implemented ?

hmmm, I guess I will have to take it all apart and see whats what!
The dealer who had my G had complained about not being able to get it into reverse very easily. I suspect he did not realize he had to pull up and push over and so just bashed his way into reverse.

The spinning shift lever leads me to think that the slot into which the end of the lever fits is worn or has been forceably distorted.

I did throw it into reverse by accident once, scared the s**t outa the guy behind me! It is a PITA to have the lever spin around and not go smoothly into gear.

__________________
Greg
'73 416 UNIMOG DoKa
'85 300GD G Wagen

I am thinking that the critical parts are spring number 3 and lip number 11.
Pulling up on number 2 allows the ring around 2 to get on top of 11 allowing the shift handle to move to the left.

I really have to take this apart again to see what is going on but perhaps pin #5 is broken and this allows the lever #2 to swivel?? There is a flat milled on the side of #2 that rests against #11 but I am not sure if that keeps it all from rotating.

The lip on #11 has also likely suffered some damage (or maybe it is just plain old wear) and this may be very difficult to repair.

There may also be some damage to pin #12 and intermediate lever #27, no way to tell other than take it all a part.

__________________
Greg
'73 416 UNIMOG DoKa
'85 300GD G Wagen