Sloppy gearstick syndrome

[piglet14]

Is this fixable?

[alexperkins]

Yes. It's either a loose linkage or the shift cables bushes have split engine side. Easy enough to sort with a few cable ties

[TRiBaL]

Had the same issue. Fixed after linkage replacement.

[piglet14]

6N0711265B ? Rod or cable?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VW-POLO-6N2-9 ... SwCypWmg5S

[alexperkins]

Should be cable

[piglet14]

What's the easiest way to check? Can you see the cables under the gaitor?

[alexperkins]

Yeah they clip onto the bottom of the gearstick

Or just stick your head under the front and you'll see them come through following the exhaust

[piglet14]

Slightly unrelated,
1st & reverse are inconsistant when stationary, well, you think you're in & you're not.
Gears are fine when driving.
Could this be selector adjustment?

[alexperkins]

Sounds like the bushes are worn. have you checked them for splits?

Otherwise, linkage is out

[piglet14]

Got under it tonight, all looked in reasonable nick for age,
Most wear appears to be on the L/R axis bell crank above the gearbox selector shaft, not sure how fixable that is?
For/aft stick position adjusted back to limit of adjustment.
I don't think any of this relates to 1st & reverse selection.
Gearbox getting noisy as well.

[alexperkins]

Pop up a pic

Oil change on the gearbox would be a good idea

[piglet14]

Stealing someone elses photo:
http://s1109.photobucket.com/user/fridg ... D.jpg.html
B marks the adjuster for the L/R axis, above the adjuster you can see a 90Deg bracket that pivots, that pivot is sloppy.

I could change the trans oil, would mineral do?

[alexperkins]

Nooooo 75W90 fully synthetic. Use genuine VW gearbox oil if possible or Castro syntrans

[piglet14]

That's what I thought you'd say.
Are those boxes prone to bearing failure?

[alexperkins]

Yep, very common. The 5 gear taper bearing breaks up and destroys the gearbox