915 shift linkage

[Brickwhite]

newly acquired 86 coupe. The 915 shifting is messy.

This is what my existing shift linkage looks like,



Is this original?

Would the Rauch & Spiegel Manual Trans Shift Shaft Coupling | 91142402404

be an upgrade?

[shoooo32]

Not original. Known as a "helicopter joint" style coupler. Is an upgrade over stock and rarely fail.

[PeteKz]

Unless it's loose, keep it. Look at the plastic bushing in the tunnel ahead of the parking brake, and the plastic cup at the bottom of the shifter. Lift up the shifter to see the cup.

[blucille]

what PeteKz said, if you are sloppy with that coupler in the rear, pull up the shifter and replace the 2 bushings.

[Winter]

I just installed a Karsten Spring (available from Stella’s)

https://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/1053247-915-stock-shifter-improvement-spring.html

And an ultimate sift rod bushing (available from 914-6werkshop.com)

https://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/1117369-ultimate-shift-rod-bushing.html

And I’m pretty pleased with how my 915 functions with those two inexpensive and easy modifications. You might want to try them as well as replacing the other bushings as mentioned above since you already have the helicopter upgrade.

[tobluforu]

It's messy because you are missing the rubber boot. Clean that area up, buy the boot, then.......
https://www.*******.com/blog/how-to-replace-the-shift-coupler-boots-on-a-classic-air-cooled-porsche-911
Replace asterisks with... f c p e u r o. So frickn stupid they block urls' like this.

[A930Rocket]

They block the urls because it’s a competitor.

The forums don’t operate for free.

[Mahler9th]

That appears to be a WEVO PSJ coupler.

I have used on since about 2007.

No alternative would offer any better performance.

The stock rubber boot does not have anything to do with performance, but it can help keep the area tidier.

The 915 system includes two different bushings up front... one for the bottom of the shift lever and one for a bracket attached to the base of the shifter. The stock ones work fine but can wear out quickly.

Improvements can often be achieved by making sure all bushings are in good shape, and proper adjustments are made.

Further improvements can be achieved via one of many aftermarket shifters.

I have used the WEVO shifter since 2006.

I have many friends with street and race cars that have enjoyed the benefits of the WEVO shifter for 20+years.

I also use the WEVO clamp back there-- a bit more robust and "positive" than the stamped steel factory part.

The WEVO products were designed and commercialized by the late Hayden Burvill. RIP.

Great person and great racing professional, fan and Porschephile.

He helped me many times and in many ways.

Hayden was the chief steward for the first year or so of the Porsche Racing Club, and did a great job.

Once while at the track:

He adjusted my shift mechanism... I learned a few tricks from him which I still appreciate.

He found some cracks in my wing uprights that could have lead to catastrophic failure. I was able to address them with materials on hand and did not miss a session oro race.

RIP.

[pmax]

Originally Posted by Mahler9th

That appears to be a WEVO PSJ coupler.

I have used on since about 2007.

No alternative would offer any better performance.

What other alternatives have you tried ?

I have many friends with street and race cars that have enjoyed the benefits of the WEVO shifter for 20+years.

I also use the WEVO clamp back there-- a bit more robust and "positive" than the stamped steel factory part.

Street and racing are different applications.

For one, NVH isn't an issue in the latter. Regular rebuilding of the drivetrain is par for the course as well.

[shoooo32]

For what it's worth, no Porsche aftermarket parts businesses are making their own helicopter joints. They're specing them from an aerospace manufacturer and private labeling them. It really doesn't matter who you buy from (WEVO, Stomski, etc)

[EC900]

Yes get the JPNovak aftermarket bushing, nice product and the spring as well.

You may as well change out the 3 throttle rod bushing in tunnel too, take a look at pedal cluster bell crank bushings as well, if plastic - change them. All cheap parts and easy fixes. All these 40-50 yr old original plastic ones that are yellowed are likely already cracked or crumbled away.
Also - Get the shift rod boots, inner and outer and replace the leaky shift rod seal.
Not only do these boots keep trans oil from leaking into the tunnel, they keep dirt the off the shift rod. Any clinging grit on the shift rod prematurely wears out the $10 seal every gear shift. The slow leaking trans oil seeps into the boots and not on floor. Trans oil smells up tunnel too.
The rod seal is a job I’m dreading to DYI.

Oh, AND - The boots keep mice out too !

Pelican sells all the above mentioned that you need.
Make It One Big Beautiful Order !

[greg79s]

I strongly recommend the stock original shifter system. The 915 gearbox shifts very smooth with the original shifter. The original owner of my 1985 Carrera installed a Porsche short shifter early in ownership and was hard on the transmission over time. The stock shifter was reinstalled and improved shifting.

[Brickwhite]

I believe I found my issue with shifting. 2nd and 4th gears became impossible to shift into.





The shifter ball was just moving around



And then I found the linkage Shaft at the cup loose and cracked under the (non-oem) hose clamp.












I guess it could be welded but I'm going to opt for a used shift rod.

Now the fun part of trying to replace it. I assume the Trans needs to moved and this pulled from the small tunnel?

Already ordered the aftermarket bushing for the Rod.



Any one try the Jwest shift rod bushing CUP? While I'm in there...

[tobluforu]

Yikes!
Jwest makes quality items, I wouldn't hesitate to buy his products.
Shift rod: On a 901, raise tranny and engine, on 915, drop it.