Rennshift Problem - Gear Throws Became Super Long Then Couldn't Engage At All

[MrBonus]

I was out for a spin and all of a sudden I go into first but the throw of the shifter just keeps moving despite feeling it go into gear. Somehow, I'm able to still use 2nd, 3rd, 4th (fortunately only a mile or so from home).

I finally come to a stop and cannot find first or second, just third, which I punch to pull out right onto the road in front of my house. As I pull up to the garage, it won't engage any gear and the shifter seems "stuck." I shut it down and play with the shifter a bit and somehow get it in gear but can't get it out despite the shifter still moving slightly in the assembly.

Did I lose a coupling somewhere? I had to have my son hold the clutch down while I pushed the car into the garage. I'm assuming this is a simple fix somewhere. The transmission has maybe 1000 miles on it since a rebuild, but something tells me this is a shifter assembly or coupling issue somewhere.

[LJ851]

The first place I would look is the shift coupler that attaches the shift rod to the transmission .

[MrBonus]

Originally Posted by LJ851

The first place I would look is the shift coupler that attaches the shift rod to the transmission .

Thank you. I wrote this in a flurry of anxiety after the fear of having limited forward gears on a 50 MPH backroad with no shoulder. I texted a buddy in the know and he basically said 90% chance it's the coupler, which would make sense.

I should have added I was out on a "test run" after I noticed the shifts getting noticeably gummier just this last week to determine if that was just in my head or actually real.

[Snwmble]

Happened to me recently. The clamp that holds the shifter coupling had gotten loose and dislodged the coupling from the shaft. Had to reinstall and adjust the coupling where all the gears would engage properly which took a lot of fiddling around

[MrBonus]

Originally Posted by Snwmble

Happened to me recently. The clamp that holds the shifter coupling had gotten loose and dislodged the coupling from the shaft. Had to reinstall and adjust the coupling where all the gears would engage properly which took a lot of fiddling around

Sigh, this is exactly what happened to me. This should be fun!

[MrBonus]

[MrBonus]

Reconnected and adjusted. I seem to have all 5 gears and reverse. It's raining so I'll give it a run later this week. Took all of five minutes.

For future emergencies, I'm going to make sure I have a 13mm wrench in my tool roll.

[LJ851]

Originally Posted by MrBonus

That will do it.

My recommendation once you have the coupler adjustment where you like it :
Make 2 paint marks, one rotationally and one longitudinally, at the coupler. This allows you to glance at it to see if it has slipped and also remove and reinstall/ adjust the coupler very quickly and easily.

[yelcab1]

Originally Posted by MrBonus

...
For future emergencies, I'm going to make sure I have a 13mm wrench in my tool roll.

With an old Porsche, you need 13mm socket, 13mm wrench, 13mm open end wrench, 13mm crow foot, 13mm offset box end wrench, 13mm deep off set wrench, 13mm combination wrench, 13mm thin wall wrench, and 13mm ratcheting wrench.

Did I leave anything out?

[blucille]

I’d add a 4mm Allen wrench and to the OP, I’d make sure the 4mm set screw is nice and tight.

[Ryan_Cunningham]

Man, isn't it nice when you think something catastrophic happened but it's just an easy fix?

[A930Rocket]

It’s amazing how often that little joint, becomes loose or disconnects.

[MrBonus]

Originally Posted by yelcab1

With an old Porsche, you need 13mm socket, 13mm wrench, 13mm open end wrench, 13mm crow foot, 13mm offset box end wrench, 13mm deep off set wrench, 13mm combination wrench, 13mm thin wall wrench, and 13mm ratcheting wrench.

Did I leave anything out?

Haha, I checked my tool roll and they're all in there (this has grown over time - I carry my favorite plug wrench with me and a handful of allen keys).

Originally Posted by blucille

I’d add a 4mm Allen wrench and to the OP, I’d make sure the 4mm set screw is nice and tight.

Already have this! My shift lever came loose while driving once. Another easy fix but scary when everything gets wiggly while going through gears.

Originally Posted by Ryan_Cunningham

Man, isn't it nice when you think something catastrophic happened but it's just an easy fix?

Yes! I've had two scary moments in 911s, once when the ball cup bushing split in half and lodged itself between 2nd and 4th in my old '89 and now this. Both easy fixes. Both scary as hell.

Originally Posted by A930Rocket

It’s amazing how often that little joint, becomes loose or disconnects.

Yes, and I am realizing the optional shift stops were not installed. I think it may be time to spend some time adjusting everything and putting these in place as this would have prevented the joint from completely separating.

The funny thing is in the past week I noticed reverse and first had a few light grinds during engagement which it hadn't done previously. I suspect this had been working its way loose so I'm curious to see if this stops once I get everything adjusted to my liking.

Thanks, everyone!

[superninety]

Get James' Rennshift Coupler Clamp. Much easier !

https://www.jwestengineering.com/911-Shift-Coupler-Clamp_p_24.html

[MrBonus]

Originally Posted by superninety

Get James' Rennshift Coupler Clamp. Much easier !

https://www.jwestengineering.com/911-Shift-Coupler-Clamp_p_24.html

Hah, that's what I have! I'm realizing that's why it took me all of 5 minutes to reassemble it.

[JWest]

You guys are quick! Easiest fix possible!

[MrBonus]

Originally Posted by JWest

You guys are quick! Easiest fix possible!

The silver lining of this problem was taking the time to watch your 25 minute YouTube video to better understand the function of adjusting the coupler bushing as well as how tight the shifter fork assembly is, which helped me understand that since it was likely "slipping," it was causing 1st and R to intermittently grind in the past week.

Now once it stops raining, I'm going to take the time to properly adjust it all from scratch.