How many here shift perfect everytime out?
 

Well, I just changed my tranny gear oil, and have resolved to improve the smoothness of shifting.

Always "cringe" when having to down shift from third to second. Also have to make sure the clutch pedal is sufficiently down each shift.

Anyone here, with above, say 98% shift, each time out? I'd unfortunately have to rate about 85% for myself, with the resolve to improve.

Downshifting 3rd to 2nd has never been a problem. It requires a bit of a pull, but never any grinding. Same with 5th to 4th.

Shifting into 1st has started to be a tiny bit of a pain, sometimes it shifts 100% perfect and sometimes I have to try the shift again. Never grinding though.

3rd...*sigh* is another story. I have to rev-match a bit to shift into 3rd properly. 3rd gear syncro is shot and will need to be replaced eventually.

I also need to put in some Swepco instead of the generic stuff I have in there, but I figured I'll do it in 2-3 months time when I'm getting the whole transmission worked on.

I think it has just about everything to do with the condition of your tranny and bushings. A fresh 915 shifts pretty nicely.

First to second is balky. No confidence in that shift. All the rest are smooth and predictable.

I'll second that comment.

That can sure be said of the 901 and I've got 2 of those. As far as 98, 95 or even 85% perfect meshing of the gears, it just depends on the day. Some days I'm Jimmy Clark. Then there are those other days. :p But going from the 901 to the Boxster can really leave me confused if I'm not paying attention. Where'd you say reverse was? :confused:

I concur. My 915 (3k miles since complete overhaul) shifts perfectly. :)

Are you talking about you being able to shift well or the tranny going into gear well? Big difference. I think I'm pretty darn good, but still get excited sometimes or suffer from not paying close enough attention. I still would say that I am in the top 5%. Of course it doesn't hurt that I don't think the general public can drive a stick worth a hoot, even those who do it everyday. I hear horrible shifts all af the time, especiallf from kids with their fart can mufflers, it's so much easier to hear that way. To me too many revs combined with too slow a clutch (resulting in too much slipping) is a really bad shift. If you can time the clutch and gas just right the clutch can come out pretty quickly without being jerky. The two most common manual transgressions seem to be shifting too quickly and shifting too slowly. I also think having a good understanding of how to rev match makes you a better shifter even on upshifts.

masraum - when you're going for max acceleration after the first to second gear change, do you let the clutch out gently and apply throttle afterwards or jump off the clutch and hammer the accelerator?

I ALWAYS remember to stop completely before shifting into reverse.

I ALWAYS hit second gear when I want to hit second gear.

I ALWAYS hit fourth gear downshifting from fifth.

I ALWAYS smile when I forget any of the above rules.

901 tranny. Second grinds everytime unless I match revs, up or down.

All other gears have no problems, including first.

I drive my 87 911 gently when cold then like the engine a few miles after 180 degree f. I start to have fun. I can shift up or down with no more than a blip of the the gas pedal. when I'm not
feeling as racey I just don't down shift until I stop. I thought it was just my car working well until a new member of our chapter asked me to drive his 912- 4spd that he was ready to have the tranny rebuilt in, I drove it like my g-50! double clutch upshift blip the trottle on down shift and amazingly he is now convinced it just needs new Swepco. Adapt yourself to the car, it doesn't read YOUR mind.

Keith Epperly

I'm think my tranny is in very good condition. No metal shavings from or on the magnetic drain plug. Coupler bushings are in excellent condition. This is a 901. I'm more concerned with any esoteric weaknesses there might be in working an approximately 35 year old clutch pedal.

So after driving the Buick, where the only pedal action is soft gas and brake, the pedal force on the 69 911 is a substantial adjustment.

My actual clutch release is timed probably perfect, having previous manuals. I've just got to get that pedal down with out the concern of busting something.

Thanks for the responses.

get it in the air and start lookin and lubbin

keith

Klaus, the gas starts to feed in just before the clutch starts to engage. To much throttle and the car will lurch forward, to little throttle and the car will be lurched backward as if you downshifted without blipping, just right and the car will almost feel like an automatic. There will of course be some change in momentum since you were decellerating for a moment, but it's a smooth resume of rate or acceleration instead of a jerk. I'm no instructor so it's hard to describe, but when you get it right it feels good. I don't feel like I'm stressing the car the way a full throttle speed shift would, and the clutch doesn't slip forever.

As some of the others have said, some days I'm on and some days not so much. :)

Why I always check my rear-view mirror approaching an up-grade stop/stoplight...especially if in a long line of traffic with the stoplight ready to go red. :mad:

No worries on my 915 except the normal "gate" feel from first to second. No grinding or otherwise. Very smoove...

Mine shifts perfectly for about 10-12 shifts...then gets a little stubborn for one or two shifts...mainly second gear.

On these occaisions, I go to second and feel some resistance there. Instead of "forcing it in", I back it out and try again...it ALWAYS goes in easier on the second try.

For first gear, I need to allow the clutch to fully engage before shifting into first from a dead stop or slight roll. This means depressing the clutch and giving it a full second before shifting to first. This always works...if I try to shift to first to quickly, it grinds (more like a little "crunch" sound)...so I give it a second to engage first.

Some jerky taxi driver didnt appreciate this one second last night...and he honked at me from behind. Then he tailgated me all down Hermosa ave. Then he flipped me off. I called his taxi company and reported him and his cab #.

Apparently he could wait a second for me to put it into first... :rolleyes:

IMHO with a 915 there are two "types" of shifting. The cruising around type which is basically just straight forward shifting, with some decent pauses in-between allowing everything to catch up and sync. Then there is the raising some holyhell shifting this requires me to "juice" the gas just a tad right before I engage the clutch, especially from 1st. to 2nd. I loose a split second from the "juicing gas" part but make up for it with postive engagment and no grinding.<br>Every fresh (rebuilt) 915 tranny I have shifted was horrible for at least 3 to 4K miles, especially 1st. to 2nd. and 4th. to 5th.

Clutch adjustment, shift bushings, rebuild the Shifter itself (2 bushings and a spring in there no one ever replaces), shift alignment, and good synchro's, sliders and dogteeth.

These babies are getting old. If you're having trouble shifting, it is probably not your technique.

This is just an aside but I seem to remember that the 901 didn't have upshift synchros on first gear and I always had to just touch second gear before shifting neutral to first. That "fooled" the trans into thinking I was downshifting so no graunch. Is that right or has my mind completely failed me. Did they put upshift synchros on the 915 for first?

There is only 1 synchro on 1st gear. There is only 1 synchro on every gear, except reverse which has none.

As I feared, my mind has failed. Maybe in my next life...

Sonicdb, I have the same problem. It shifts fine for several times and then sticks like it is out of alignment. I tried adjusting the shift coupler. I have had everything upgraded (rebuilt trans) including the bushing on the shifter but did not replace the coupler bushings. Is it cheaper to replace the whole coupler or just the bearings?

I have had this nagging problem since the rebuild (sticks going into 1,2, and grinds if I don't go to neutral for a second going from 5 to 4) and would like to solve it. The short shifter did not do much and the shift bushings did not do much either. My last thing to try is the shift coupler. Could the rebuild be bad?

I used to complain about the balkiness of downshifting into 2nd gear, typically when making a turn. Used to make a bit of a pause, like on an upshift.... WRONG. Have found out that on my 915, making the downshift into second immediately when the clutch disengages makes it smooth as silk... wait too long & the balkiness is inevitably there. I make the slight pause between all shift except for the downshift to 2nd... try it!
regards,
jlex.

I rarely. . . wait a minute, did you say "shift?" Oh, never mind then.

Sonic!

I have the exact same problem!

I call in the taxis in Manhattan, Hermosa and Redondo at least once a week!

A cab ran a red light (as usual) last friday night right in front of the marina here, and had a head on WITH ANOTHER CAB!!!!

Macabe, yes, but there were people laughing after the two gentlemen drivers were removed from their wrecked cabs, and were yelling at each other in a foreign language. Even funnier, they couldn't understand each other because it wasn't the same foreign language!

Needless to say, not a single one of the Redondo PD guys were quite so amused. I have actually seen the motor guys sitting in the bushes writing tickets to cabs and bike riders (long overdue) for running the red light. The bike riders usually also get one for no ID.... followed by a warning about attitude. Seems the tighter the pants, tighter the sphincter when confronted.

Didn't mean to hijack the thread, but couldn't resist.

Singpilot.... Wow....I came across an accident just seconds after it happened at the intersection by the Crown Plaza/Golds gym (Beryl St) just last week. I was on my way home and was going to take that U turn around the gym to get to Catalina.

As I got to the intersection, the cab-van had just cracked that BMW and the lady was still inside the Beemer.....people were running up to help her and the cab driver was still in his van.

I thought about stopping, but realized that there was nothing I could do to help the situation and would probably just be in the way. An hour later, I was on my way to Golds and they were just towing the cab out of the intersection. The BMW was just totalled, she may have been seriously hurt.

its getting out of control down there with those damn cabs. Speed limit is like 30 and they go ripping down there at 50+.

That wreck was a week earlier than the one last weekend! Another cab running a red light. (Same exact intersection.)

I avoid Hermosa downtown on a Friday or Saturday night. The brawling drunks in the streets don't bother me. The jaywalking parties in progress don't bother me.


The Taxi mafia that drives like they are immune to Newtons' third law scare me.

OK, sorry for the break.....

Now back to our regularly scheduled thread.

Ive got a plan....while the fat taxi drivers are out of their cabs standing on the corner of Hermosa and Pier Ave smoking and gabbing... we go in, dressed in black and chain the axles of their cabs together ala "American Graffiti" style... then the next time they take off "BAM"... axles laying all over the street. :)

OK thread hi jack over...back to shifting problems.

FYI, I do think Swepco helps and Im gonna put a new can in over the holidays to keep it fresh.

Yes, my 901 has the spring for reverse and first. Feels very good, so I believe that part is fine.

Swepco does help. A gear oil change every 5000K miles helps even more.

I saw a cabby getting a ticket on Pier Ave on Friday night...I laughed.

post hijack!

I don't think that anyone gets a perfect shift every time...it's the pursuit of the perfect shift that's fun :D

Thanks for the help. I just have a bit of trouble because the car I drive (not a Porsche) has worse throttle response than a diesel. Not only is it slow to respond, it will only increase revs in 200rpm increments, so it's hard to get everything perfectly smooth. Time for a custom chip and lightweight flywheel!