Oh boy do I have a PO story to tell......
So this cross shaft thing was bugging me and I had nothing better to do so I went out and took another run at it. Got the shaft out with very little trouble. I can see the issue clearly now!

The circlip on the shaft was toast and the bushing well not looking good at all. So parts in hand I head to DIP. I took them all the release arm and bearing and shaft. Figured I would get a repair kit and maybe replace the shaft and arm as they are showing signs of wear. Note the hole I drilled in the arm.

Anyway I stated I need the bushing and junk for the cross shaft out of a 1965 Bug (swing axle)... We noticed that the bushing was the same size as the shaft.

That ain't going to work

So after measuring the cross shaft 20mm not the 16mm for a bug we began to try and figure out what year the bus transmission came out of.

But wait it is not a bus trans-axle...

And the thicker cross shaft was on '76 or newer IRS buses.
Dead end

So a later IRS cross shaft most likely a '76 might work!

Oh wait the release bearing... it's a match to the '65 swing axle

Find that part on the shelf!!! not going to happen.
So the cross shaft in my 1965 Beetle swing axle (no it is not a bus trans-axle) is a hybrid with possibly a 1976 or later IRS Bus trans-axle cross shaft with the forks to support the 1965 Beetle's release bearing. The housing of the transmission/trans-axle has been bored out to accept the thicker shaft.
Guess I could put the the IRS bus cross shaft in and the matching bearing....

Too bad they don't have it in stock...
So I have new clips and washers and a better understanding of why things don't really fit... I know I put 8K miles on this car after the restoration so the setup works but why would any one do that!
Oh well I managed to piece it all back together and it works
