Shifter refresh

Nditiz1 · 04:07 AM

My car came with a short shifter kit already installed, which seems fine. What I have recently noticed is that the shifter rattles (metal sounding). If I gently move the knob to the left, once in gear, and hold it there (very light pressure) the noise goes away. I swapped out the shift bushings after searching and found that to be a fix. It still rattles. I am thinking it is the play in the shifter itself and not any of the linkage. It mainly does it in 3rd and 4th. Are the bushings inside the shifter replaceable? Where can I buy a refrsh kit?

HaroldMHedge · HaroldMHedge's Garage

A little more information will help.
Year/model of your car?
Which short shifter is installed?
Which transmission is in the car?

Harpo · Harpo's Garage

The only rebuild parts I have seen is the ball cup, shift tube bushing. Also check the slop in the other joint in the back seat

Nditiz1 · 06:48 AM

1977 Targa
923 transmission (basically a 915)
How do I tell which short shifter I have? I only know it is because I took a pic and posted and my shifter shaft has the welded ring at the top right below the shift knob.
Also happens around 3000+ rpm, when engine is creating more vibration I'm guessing.

bkreigsr · 11-12-2018, 08:21 AM

How was the 923 mated to the crankshaft?
The 923 is meant to mate to VW (411) drive-train, so you can either change the output shaft at the crank, or install a 911 type input shaft in the 923.

FWIW, my 923 (correctly mated in a 912E) displays the same characteristics that you describe. One of the prior owners had his mechanic install a ss kit (Tarett). I thought that might be the source of the noise, so I installed a stock tower, lever and boot that I picked up at Hershey. The noise was reduced, but did not disappear.

Shifting was sloppy when I got the car, so I installed a Stomski coupler to remove all slop. This made the 'rattling' louder, so I'm back to a stock coupler with the white plastic Stoddard bushings that Pelican sells.

And, yes, the plane of 3rd and 4th are the loudest.

Bill K

Nditiz1 · 11-12-2018, 09:25 AM

Thanks Bill,

You answered that perfectly. That is exactly what I am running the 923 with a 912E, well more specifically a 914 engine. I too have a SS muffler (stebro), but I don't think my HE are SS. Good to know it is a problem with the over all combination and not with any particular part.

bkreigsr · 11-12-2018, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nditiz1

.....I too have a SS muffler (stebro), but I don't think my HE are SS. Good to know it is a problem with the over all combination and not with any particular part.

Sorry - my 'ss' is shorthand for 'short shift' not stainless exchangers.

I'd sure like to get to the bottom of this. I'm going to replace the clutch in March. Maybe then I'll get more insight.

Bill k

bkreigsr · 11-12-2018, 10:34 AM

Another possible culprit - check this out.
Bill K

Help - ID the part

gtc · gtc's Garage

You can remove some of the slop with the threaded pin on the front of the shifter housing. Loosen the jam nut in order to adjust the pin.

It would be a good time to disassemble and clean the shifter, and apply fresh grease when reassembling.

Jgordon · 11-14-2018, 06:31 AM

There was a similar issue with the G50 in the late 80s. The shift mechanism would rattle a bit, more so in 3rd/4th and at higher RPM. Their solution was to put two o-rings on the shift rod; one snugging the shifter into the ball cup, and one applying tension to the shift rod, pulling it a bit toward one side of the center tunnel. When I rebuilt my shifter mechanism, I noticed that they were both broken. Replaced them with zip ties and all has been good since.

May be worth trying to recreate the factory mod, so as to replicate the tension you applied with your hand that quieted the rattle.