Difficult getting into 1st and reverse, 3rd tight on a 915
 

Hi all, sometimes it’s hard to get into first or reverse. And sometimes 3rd is “tight”
I’m going to look at the cable adjustment, but what else might be suspect? It’s got 153,000 gently driven miles on it... (I know at some point it will need a clutch but hoping to push that out as far as possible)
Thanks

Check the travel at the transmission fork, should be .95 in. Then verify the shift coupler is tight and does not have excessive play replace bushings if necessary. How about the tunnel bushings and shifter bushing, have those been replaced recently. At 153K miles if nothing has been done in the above areas it may be time.

Walt you say tunnel bushings and shifter bushing. Is there more than 1 tunnel bushing?

No, just one tunnel bushing. Parts are inexpensive if in doubt just replace the works.

It hasn’t had anything done to it, other than a cable adjustment a couple years ago.

I’ve read that replacing the shift coupler bushing can be difficult. I see some Delrin bushings being sold. Is that the way to go? Or just buy a whole new coupler? There are numerous options out there.

Replace the cup bushing on the underside of the sifter, replace the large bushing where the rod enters the tunnel and replace the bushings in the coupler.
Replacing the coupler bushings was an easy job for me. However, even with newer bushings, I still replaced it for a Wevo coupler later on and enjoy a more precise shift now.


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J.W. recommends the black delrin bushings for the shift coupler. There should be some online videos available, it requires a hammer, punch and maybe a vise.

edit: Here you go. See post #6

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/718835-shift-bushings-replacement-911sc.html

Thanks for all the great replies! I have ordered 2 Delrin coupler bushings, along with the shift rod and ball cap bushings from our host.
Should be here in a couple days and I’ll get this taken care of.
Thanks again!

And leave the rear adjustment cover off with a couple wrenches in the floor.
You'll be tweaking on it for a couple drives after rebuild. You will get it perfect at least once and think it can be better.
Screw it up again and spend some more time trying to get it where is was before.
It's a lot of fun. ;)

Update. My parts arrived today, and I went to work. My 83SC is different than the write ups here. Not hugely but different.

I found it impossible to get the rear coupling pin out to change the bushings. Even brought over to a local shop with a hydraulic press and it wouldn’t budge.

It didn’t seem to bad so I ended up reinstalling it.

One thing I had difficulty with was getting the rod bushing on! Not easy and concerned I may have deformed it, although it looked ok. The shift is stiff and rubbing at the bushing. I can feel and hear it at the shifter. Is that typical for the first few shifts? I only have driven the car a couple miles.

Yeah , I soak that bushing in hot water softens it up makes it more pliable.