shift shaft splines stripped

[bc]

1983 diesel vanagon. My shift shaft splines seem to be stripped out. Doesn't look good. Any advice out there?
Thanks

[rsxsr]

Are you talking about the splines on the last section of shift rod where the adjustment clamp is?

[bc]

Actually the little shaft sticking out of the tranny on the passenger side. The shift linkage bolts on to it.

[rsxsr]

The splines that have failed, most likely are in the lever/bracket not the shaft. The shift shaft is a much harder material. You might be able to fix what you have though. There is a special washer that is supposed to be under the self locking nut. It is possible after all these years the original washer was lost or replaced with the wrong one, or the lock nut was replaced with a nonlocking nut. If you examine all the parts, you will see that without the proper washer the nut bottoms out on the threads before it tightens the bracket/lever. It needs the washer to pinch the bracket against the shaft. Depending on the wear, you might be able to install a thicker washer and lock nut and get the bracket/lever secured. If that is not the case, you might be able to weld a couple spots of the splines in the bracket/lever and then "drive" the bracket/lever back on to the shaft. The proper way to fix it, would be to replace the lever, washer and nut and hope it stays together. There was a change after 83, so finding a lever/bracket might prove difficult to find used. Do a search on the samba classifieds and you might come up with good used parts. Good luck.

[bc]

So I got it fixed. I cut the round part on the shift lever (the part with the ball). The round part that goes over the shaft. Then welded two nuts to it in order to run a bolt through them with a nut on other end. The idea being it would clamp around the splines even tighter, like on a motorcycle.