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Re: Speedo not working again!
Posted: Fri Jun 16, 2023 10:03 pm
by mark1gls
No worries always happy to help so ask away…
Just checked underneath my car and snap… my outer CV boot is split so I’ll be changing mine ASAP.
You do need a big socket for the hub nut and a long bar a tight, I use an old torque wrench with a 2m length of scaffolding pole so make sure you loosen the hub nut before lifting the car as you will need to pull the handbrake on and in 1st gear.
The CV joint should be the type which you knock off with a rubber mallet (don’t use a metal hammer as you can damage the CV joint case) hold the end straight and hit it… then it should slide off.
Make sure you get the kit with a new hub nut as washers etc as it’s a use once item.
Re: Speedo not working again!
Posted: Fri Jun 16, 2023 10:36 pm
by mark1gls
I’m trying a Febi one as the GKN one I fitted last time (from Euro car parts) is now split after only 3 years old and done 18,000 miles….
I’ve just order this one.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/175032956847 ... R4qG9eGYYg
Re: Speedo not working again!
Posted: Mon Jul 03, 2023 6:48 pm
by smudger28
Update on the gearbox refurb.
The gearbox is out and on the bench and this is the findings:
Crankshaft oil seal has gone
Bush/seal for the input shaft
Driveshaft oil seal
Sealing cap at the end of the gearbox - All seals easily replaced
Flywheel badly damaged - Coming from the USA
Both transmission arms are knackered - He thinks these have to been sent away to be refurbed. I thought I could get these off Ebay new?
As for the Speedo, it was the plastic spline which had snapped and luckily retrievable from the gearbox.
So all in all not too bad.
Re: Speedo not working again!
Posted: Mon Jul 03, 2023 8:30 pm
by mark1gls
If your removing the green cap on the end it’s worth fitting a new thrust bearing and a good clean out as it can get gummed up in there.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/221185983385 ... R474v9OjYg
It sounds like the usual seals need replacing and easy job to do especially with the gearbox on the bench.
Not 100% sure what you mean by transmission arms? Is it the drive shafts?
Re: Speedo not working again!
Posted: Tue Jul 04, 2023 7:09 am
by smudger28
Morning Mark
Haha yes the drive shafts . Apologies for my lack of mechanical knowledge... I've looked online and there are loads on there that say they will fit, yet the mechanic reckons we need to send them away?
Re: Speedo not working again!
Posted: Tue Jul 04, 2023 12:52 pm
by mark1gls
There is 2 sizes of drive shaft CV’s but I guess yours are 100mm flange and early cars had 90mm flanges on the gearbox, check you get the right size, either measure the end of the CV joint or gearbox flange.
Lots out there as the Mk1 Golf cabriolet used the same running gear.
Don’t know which ones are best regards build quality etc as both my car have the original drive shafts and CV joints.
Might be worth a shout out on the Facebook page to see what makes others have used as there is some poor quality items out there…
Don’t know the cost of getting the original ones refurbished compared to buying new?
Re: Speedo not working again!
Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2023 7:14 am
by smudger28
Hi Mark
The garage actually phoned yesterday to say they could get new ones for £118 and a refurb would cost £130. I think the boy is opting for new as the costs are beginning to mount up

Re: Speedo not working again!
Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2023 4:49 pm
by mark1gls
Yes sounds a good idea to get new drive shafts.
Keep hold of the old ones so you can check them and possibly sell them on if they look ok as spares or repair to recoup some money.
Re: Speedo not working again!
Posted: Mon Jul 17, 2023 2:49 pm
by smudger28
Gearbox Update
The gearbox has been refurbished and waiting to go back in. We've asked the mechanic if he'd change the gearbox linkage too as there is a lot of play in the gearstick. Hopefully be sometime this week that we get the car back. Just needs an MOT now
The problem with the Speedo was the plastic drive spline had snapped in two..
Re: Speedo not working again!
Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2023 6:48 pm
by smudger28
Gearbox Update
So they phoned today to say the gearbox is all back in and working with no leaks but the Speedo still is not working grrrr. They’ve put a drill on the cable side and took it up to 60mph so the cable and gauge are not the issue.
What else could it be? I’ve ordered 2 more plastic spines but from Heritage parts this time and not EBay.
Are the splines hard to line up?
Thanks
Re: Finally Fixed!!!Speedo not working again!
Posted: Wed Aug 02, 2023 3:25 pm
by smudger28
So we got the Rocco back from the clutch and gearbox specialists last night to the tidy sum of £1425. To be fair we had loads of work done over the 2 months it's been with them.
We did eventually get to the bottom of the speedo not working. The brand new cable we got from VW Classics was slightly bent at the gear drive end, which must've pulled the plastic spines away from the gearbox side of things therefore no contact being made. I asked the mechanic if he could bend it back slightly to centre and it worked! So going to leave it as it at the moment instead of forking out another £40 for a cable.
Thanks again for all the helpful info. MOT tomorrow and the beast is back on the road, fingers crossed!