HELP Spotro Shifting Problem!!!!!

74911targa · 74911targa's Garage

O.K. here goes. The other day I had a little trouble shifting into 2nd gear. There was a tiny bit of grinding before it popped into gear. Well this problem progressed fairly rapidly. No more shifting into 2nd. I made an appointment at the shop for early next week thinking this was a synchro problem. I took the car to a meeting today using 1st, 3rd and 4th. Well now I'm down to 1st and 3rd. I can't imagine that 2 seperate synchros went within a few days of each other. What could be the problem ?

1-3
| |
2-4

1 and 3 are perfect 2 and 4 are completely gone. Any suggestions besides converting to a normal tranny would be great. Thanks for your help!!!

B D · 10-28-2005, 12:55 PM

It's probably just the microswitch on the shifter. Take the boot off the shifter and inspect things closely, watch to see it's making contact when you pull the shifter. You can use a simple electrical tester to see if current changes when the gear shift is moved. For now be gentle and don't force anything, slowly engage gears. Becareful with the microswitch don't try bending it, try cleaning the connectors first.

Do a search on "Sporto" and you will find a few great threads on trouble shooting the issue. A second person is a great help.

74911targa · 74911targa's Garage

Thanks B D

rodoredas · 12-28-2005, 05:54 PM

I've got exactly the same frustrating problem on my 75 911 - how can you clean the contacts without taking the whole gear stick assembly out and removing the micro switch from the gear stick. is it actually possible to clean them with the microswitch in place.

Fishcop · Fishcop's Garage

The micro switch has a top "cover plate" you can prise open with a small flat screwdriver. Pull up the boot gently until it exposes the white switch and pop the cap. Clean the contacts with proper electrical cleaner and a fine art brush.

Also consider rebuilding the shifter including the rubber washer that is located at the base of the shift leaver. This rubber grommit disintergrates and stops the correct lever pressure being applied to the switch.

If you guys are able to select some gears and not others, then it is almost certainly electrical. To satisfy myself a few years ago, I made and re-routed a separate switch to manually throw the clutch. I taped it to my steering wheel and used a finger to activate the clutch during shifts - it worked perfectly and identified that the microshift was shagged. I bought a new switch, rebuilt the shifter and all bushes and spent hours getting it "just right". It's a pain in the arse, but eventually I had a perfect shifting sporto...

74911targa · 74911targa's Garage

1 small piece of ultra fine sandpaper folded in half and slid between the contacts a few times did the trick for me. A little anti-corosion spray for good keeping.

daepp · daepp's Garage

Just out of curiosity - why do you maintain the sporto? Is it more fun tor drive?

wm711 · 12-29-2005, 01:25 PM

i had a euro 73 S sporto, with a 2.7 RS spec engine... It was maybe the most fun car I have ever had. I regret selling it daily. Here it is a few years ago on the back straight at Road Atlanta.

Fishcop · Fishcop's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by daepp
Just out of curiosity - why do you maintain the sporto? Is it more fun tor drive?

I guess when you're talking older/early cars, originality is important. The thing a lot of non-sporto owners don't appreciate is just how nice a car a sporto is when it is working well. They shift faster than a 915, you can drive them around town in one gear all day and they aren't that hard to maintain - it's just that they've been forgotten over the years and essential parts are very hard to find at resonable prices.

Like wm711 I dropped a 2.7 RS spec engine into my car and tracked it for some time before it gave up earlier this year (it wrecked a torque converter). Sportos are surprisingly quick around a track as you can cheat on gear changes and "left foot brake" very easily. I located a wrecked car with box, shifter and pedals and recently went to a manual... I'm still not sure it has made car 'better".

rodoredas · 01-02-2006, 01:36 AM

thanks fishcop and 74911targa - sporto doin' just fine now, like all those folk that love sportos, when they go they go, they are just fiddly, but hey that's half the fun. that left foot brake and fast gear change are to die for.

My car - 75 911 australian delivered, i'm the 5th owner. first two owners had car for about 9 months, 3rd purchased in 1976 sold in 2002 and really looked after it, 4th had for 3 years in garage and now shes mine. engine has S pistons and goes better that standard 911 - waited 30 years to get one, couldn't be happier.

check out web site for pix.