Wobbly tip of the tunnel gear shift rod 915 - normal?

[Bulatovic]

Hi guys,

still procrastinating with going to the garage and teardown the gearbox and engine, but the gearchange 1st to 2nd is getting a tad more annoying - so i'll try and make everything i can as tidy as possible before splitting the case and changing the syncros and rest.
So i want to make the shifting mechanism as good as new - or better.

Having had a look at the gear shift rod in - the long one in the tunnel - i noticed that the tip of it is having a bit of play relative to the rest of the shaft.



Question - is this normal to allow some slack in the system, or is mine in a bad way?


Cheers!
Luka

[911obgyn]

Should be solid.

[Schulisco]

Here's a how to on how to replace all shift bushings, mandatory if never has been done before.

https://t.ly/DERe4

Make sure, that you use the right transmission oil: SAE 90 mineralic GL5, in US Swepco 201 is well known for that. If there's a modern synthetic oil in it, then shifting it warm is getting more worse. The 915 urgently needs drag torque to perform the synchros well, which is generated by those old fashioned oils...can make a huge difference. Necertheless - if the 915 is bad, it cannot cure it....no question. But changing the oil is easier and cheaper and quicker than overhauling it.

Thomas

[Joesmallwood]

My rod tip was the same, loose (funny when you say that out loud ). I noticed it was loose so I wrapped some damp towels all around the area and tack welded it. I didn't notice a difference in shifting, but the tip is solid now.

[Bulatovic]

Originally Posted by 911obgyn

Should be solid.

Ah great! 🙄
I’ll see if to tack it with a weld then i suppose 🤔

Originally Posted by Schulisco

Here's a how to on how to replace all shift bushings, mandatory if never has been done before.

https://t.ly/DERe4

Make sure, that you use the right transmission oil: SAE 90 mineralic GL5, in US Swepco 201 is well known for that. If there's a modern synthetic oil in it, then shifting it warm is getting more worse. The 915 urgently needs drag torque to perform the synchros well, which is generated by those old fashioned oils...can make a huge difference. Necertheless - if the 915 is bad, it cannot cure it....no question. But changing the oil is easier and cheaper and quicker than overhauling it.

Thomas

Thanks for the link and tips Thomas!
Unfortunately i have it filled with what it should be happy with - Motul HD Mineral GL-4 80w90, but was searching for some friction “worseners” to have the worn rings grab a bit more easily… some recommendations were to use 75w140, but i feel that would make it just thicker and slippier for the syncros to engage, making shifts more notchy - not sure if this is the case

Originally Posted by Joesmallwood

My rod tip was the same, loose (funny when you say that out loud ). I noticed it was loose so I wrapped some damp towels all around the area and tack welded it. I didn't notice a difference in shifting, but the tip is solid now.

Damn, those loose tips! 😅
But a good one to use the towel and weld it in situ! Will go see a friend with a MIG then!

The bushings of the shifter are new, just then to add a nice coupler and have it entirely down to syncros - but nowhere to run from there

Thanks guys!