Stuck In 2nd Gear *$&#^&@

RussianBlue · 08-06-2005, 12:08 PM

Ok, I must concede that I do not know what is wrong with this POS
CAR: 72 911T

Tranny: 915

Problem: Car is stuck in 2nd gear - shifted from 1st to 2nd then tried to go to third..... or any other gear - no luck........ drove home in 2nd gear

Clutch DOES release the car from (2nd) gear w/out hesitation.

Tried: Removed original style 72 shifter - nothing obvious there - aside from that the bushings are fresh

Rear tunnel no obvious problems there- everything is tight

Drained the gear oil and removed bottom cover - "fork" not loose and no obvious culprit - but I am not familiar with what normal tranny inards should look like....

Pedal assembly is also "fresh" and tight...

Any ideas before I drive it into the ocean?

Thanks.....

rcecale · rcecale's Garage

RB,

With the guide fork cover removed, reach inside the tranny with a BAS (Big A$$ed screwdriver) and pry on the shift rod in the pic until the two notches are lined up. That should do it for you.

Randy

RussianBlue · 08:46 PM

Ummmm thanks - I just crawled under the car to take a pic before I pry on anything.....

.... sorry about the poor pic - but does this help with the diagnosis?? Does the above reply still apply??

... am I totally screwed??!!!

Oh and thanks for the reply!!!!......... I am grateful, please advise again.

RussianBlue · 08-06-2005, 10:16 PM

Ok, stared at the mechanisms for an hour and decided to line up the forks and be on my way...... my only concern is that the detant(s) must be a$$backward if this happened at all..... and only a matter of time that this will happen again....

Thanks for the input, however!!

rcecale · rcecale's Garage

RB,

Sorry for taking so long to get back here. From your post, I'm assuming you got 2nd unstuck and are "on your way?" Hope that's the case for you.

I've seen the situation you described with your tranny posted here several times. Unsticking it like I described has been the cure many times. The cause of this, I don't quite know, but using the screwdriver technique seems to do the trick. Perhaps one of the experts will chime in and explain what causes this.

Frequently, a 915 will get stuck in Reverse, the say way. The fix for that is to remove the Reverse Indicatore Switch from the front end of the tranny and pushing it out of gear...with the same BAS.

Good luck.

Randy

RussianBlue · 08-08-2005, 05:25 AM

THANKS!

Yes I am back on the road w/out consequence.....

I did do a search on the subject - but it took a bit to find something useful.

I understand that the detants could be backward, but I am wondering if having the rear coupler (in tunnel) mal-adjusted could cause this problem as well?

There is a chance that mine might be out of adjustment - I just installed this engine and tranny and did not think to re-adjust the coupler....

Thanks again!

john walker's workshop · 08-08-2005, 07:25 AM

someone probably had it apart and didn't get one or both detents in the proper position between the shift shafts. it'll happen again, sometime.

RussianBlue · 08-08-2005, 09:41 AM

Thanks JW, I need to find your shop for once and for all.....
You about 30mins from Issaquah?

I might do a drive by (the good kind) when I am out and about in the targa.

john walker's workshop · 08-08-2005, 10:11 AM

on a good day.

RussianBlue · 08-08-2005, 10:15 AM

Good day for you I hope..... I don't have good days anymore.

And, if it is all relative in a sense, then you will be having a good day compared to mine.

Jeff Higgins · 08-08-2005, 10:42 AM

I was wondering why I hadn't heard from you. Tried to call a couple of times and just got your voice mail. So what's the plan from here - drive around with a drain pan and a BAS in the car all the time? I'm wondering how hard a permanent fix would be, like putting the detents back in the proper place. Total tear down of the tranny? Oh, and I think John means 30 minutes from Issaquah if you're lucky. 30 minutes from I-5 if you're not. Don't try it anytime around rush hour.

RussianBlue · 08-08-2005, 10:51 AM

I called you yesterday Higgy, just before your drive - I tried to run into you but no luck.

I still think I need to adjust the coupler if you know anything about that?

Also it seems that the gears got all whacked when I was speed shifting the darn thing.... I have been taking it easy since then.

I can do a drive Today thru Wed if that sounds good.... i will probably pick up that used windshield too, if you wanna be a 2nd set of hands for that?

Jeff Higgins · 08-08-2005, 11:50 AM

Sure, when do you want to pick it up? Wednesday works best for me for a drive or a windshield or both; today and tomorrow are booked.

I don't know anything about adjusting the coupler. I have read on this board that the proper adjustment results in the shifter itself being vertical with the tranny in neutral. I think that is where I would start. Can some one out there that (unlike me) knows what he is doing with this help us out here?

RussianBlue · 08-08-2005, 01:27 PM

I can pick up the windshield by myself np - I will just need help on the install....

As usual I will have most of it done before you even get here.... I get bored

we can look at the coupler, and maybe compare to your car?

john walker's workshop · 08-08-2005, 01:58 PM

shifter handle centered front to rear and held all the way to the left, loosen the coupler nut/bolt and turn the coupler all the way to the right by hand. tighten nut/bolt.

Jeff Higgins · 08-08-2005, 03:14 PM

Hmmm... windshield install... haven't tried one yet, but what the hell. How hard can it be? Wednesday o.k.?

Thanks John; that sounds pretty straightforward. Between that tip, my car that works as an example, and two reasonably intelligent guys (other than our penchant for old Porsches) we should be able to figure this one out.

So looking through the cover shown in Randy and Alex's photos above, is it possible to see if the detents are not positioned properly? If they are not, is it possible re-position them through that cover, or does the tranny have to come out and come appart?

john walker's workshop · 08-08-2005, 03:27 PM

out and apart. the detents are inserted from the outside and the passage is capped with a tap in plug. trouble is, the detents live between two shift rods, so you can't get to them. you can work the plugs out and if you can see the blunt rounded end of a detent down in the hole, then you know for sure it's in the wrong place. all you should be able to see is the rounded side of a shaft going across the bore. mirror and flashlight required, and a knack for working in tight places.

Jeff Higgins · 08-08-2005, 07:08 PM

Darn; I was afraid of that. Assuming we can work the plugs out without buggering them all up, we'll take a look. Alex, it's time to work on your kharma and muster up a "good day"; you're due. We've been lucky so far...