Another Shifter bushing lesson?

[Elombard]

This has been so beat to death, but I thought I would share this experience My car came with the bushings and coupler replaced at some point in the 90s (915 car). It had the white plastic (Nylon?) ones in the shifter ball and shift rod. I figured they would be good an not to worry about them.

Then my car became progressively worse going into 5th gear, really hard to get in there, I was afraid I was going to bend a fork. I thought my pinch clamp had slipped and the coupler was out of adjustment. I tried to adjust it 7 or 8 times, I could get 5th, reverse or 1,2 never both at the same time????

Finally I peaked through the hole in the side of the housing and wiggled the shifter....HOLY CRAP! it was woggling around like a worm. I took it apart and discovered the ball cup bushing in 5 pieces and the shift rod bushing was broken in half and laying in there.

After replacment ....I know its been said before but...WOW..its never shifted this well!

The Moral???

I think it is probably routine maintenance to change out the Nylon shifter bushings every five years?? Its almost looked like the grease had dissolved them partially?

Maybe patroleum based grease is a bad idea and thats why the lithium type is recommended?

[Oh Haha]

Adjusting the clutch cable once in a while is a good idea as well. I just did mine and it made a world of difference in my shifting. I had already done every bushing in the shifter/trans linkage. Very smooth now with no grinding, even on speedy 1-2 shifts.

[Elombard]

Good Point, I had recently gone to solid bushings in the coupler and my shifting got worse!! Should of checked them all then.

FWIW

I have the white nylon bushings on the
shift rod bushing (Boy is that a PITA to put in).
Bottom of the shifter
the coupler

I also have solid engine and sport tranny mounts.

Shifts excellent, unfortunately my 3rd gear synchro is a little weak, but with my recent discovery its actually alot better!

I am going to add a factory short shift and a Seine Gate shift and I think it will be very good. I recently drove a fresh 915 with the factory short shift and it was amazing.

One other note. When using the "Factory" linkage adjustment method, with all of the solid bushings, I could not get the "free Play" you are supposed to have at the coupler when in 5th gear?? However all gears are exactly wear you want them. I suspect the solid bushings eliminate some of this play.

[Kobus Brits]

I also replaced the bushings over the weekend and could not believe the difference in shifting. I thought it was an exaggeration when it was said that it will fix all your shifting problems. That was a few dollars well spent. When I opened the shifter I found that there were only fragments of a once upon a time bushing left. I suppose it was never replaced and it still had the original bushings in.

[jdowty3]

Wow. You use 5th gear??
I thought that was just for when you hit redline in 4th.

[karenG]

Last spring while visiting the hill country in southwest texas my gear shifter suddenly became very sloppy. After driving in third gear back to the hotel a local mechanic offered to take a look. He fixed my problem by installing two sawed off short pieces of grey PCP plastic pipe in each side of the shifting rod and poured in a mixture of epoxy to fill in the gaps. Duct tape held everything in place until the epoxy set up.

Afterwards the transmission sifted through the gears like a new car and I was able to get home with no further troubles. I had the correct shifter bushings ordered and installed after about a week. I think it actually shifted better with the temp/fix.

[DG624]

I have replaced everything except the shift coupler busings. I have problems going into all gears even when the engine is off. It is not consistent (sometimes it works fine) but seems to stick at the last point of engagement. I also have problems gettting the shifter disengaged especially from 4th and 5th. It feels like something is rubbing inside the transmission. I have tried adjusting it many times.

[Elombard]

Hmm I wonder if progressively worsening bushings caused a bent shift fork when you perhaps "forced" it one time? I am really lucky I did not bend anything because a couple of times I really leaned on it trying to get it into 5th.

How recent were the shifter bushings done? Are you using the factory adjust method?

[Bill Verburg]

Here is a pic of the shifter cup, they do break up and need replacement every coupla decades

[DG624]

I replaced my bushing last year. I hope I didn't bend anything. There are some moments when it won't go into 2nd gear but if I go to 3rd or try then it shifts better into 2nd. It does seem strange like something is out of adjustment. When it won't go into 2nd it will go into 3rd then not into third will go into 2nd. I can shift while moving inot all ears but some are very balky. I will try the shift coupler bushing next.

[JayMac]

I'm having a problem with hitting 3rd lately - the problem is when I am shooting for 5th I get third. I ordered the bushing kit from pelican and will change the tran oil with swepco while I am at it - am I starting in the right place? The tran doesn't grind and other than what feels like shifter symptoms works great,
Thanks

[rfuerst911sc]

I recently did all the bushings on my 83SC ordered from our host including the brass coupler bushings along with nylon cup and shift tube bushing. I thought my car shifted fairly well but this upgrade made it shift great. The "feel" is very tight and crisp it's the best money I've spent to date. I still have to replace the tranny fluid and plan on useing Swepco.

[JayMac]

As per the incredible help I always get on this site I tackled the disassembly of my shifter and guess what - the bushings were shot, much to my pleasure. After looking at them I was surprised I could shift at all - my only problem is I have to wait for the new kit to arrive from Pelican (just ordered today) - I am very excited about how this will improve my overall driving experience,

Here is a quick picture of the rear bushing - almost completely gone on this side,

Once again - thanks to this site, I'm not sure what I wouldn't try to fix knowing I have access to this site. For me this site has truly enhanced the already great pleasure it is to own a Porsche by adding to it the real pleasure of maintaining it yourself!

Thanks!!

[Elombard]

Yah thats how my shifter cup and shift rod looked. You should really enjoy the new feel.

[grandadg90]

How do you get to the cup bush and the shift rod bush.

[randywebb]

remove the shifter - the cup will be on the end (as in pic BV posted) or will be stuck down in the metal end piece - if latter, dig it out w/hooked metal prongs (if really bad - like mine was - then chip it out with 3 mm chisel and a hammer... great fun)

[grandadg90]

Cheers randy