Newbie question... shifting into 2nd

[godxilla2]

I recently purchased an 86 911, my first Porsche. The PO supposely recently had a new clutch installed. The mechanic believed that the PO was indeed right.

However, when attempting to shift into 2nd gear (from any other gear), it is sometimes quite difficult to pull the stick into 2nd. It feels like the stick has resistance to going into gear.

It does not happen all the time, sometimes its relatively easy. There is no grinding sound or other sounds. It just feel subuorn.

My oil levels seem fine.

Is this normal for a 915 trans? I know 86 trans are known for being more rough than newer cars.

Please shed some light if you can....

Thanks

[Oh Haha]

The 915 trans will balk if you try to speed shift it. They like to have a slight pause between gears, especially the 1-2 shift. I beat the crap out of mine the first couple of years I had BEFORE finding out that it wasn't the way to shift it. DOH!!!
Have you tried adjusting your shfit linkage or replacing the bushings?
If there is no grinding it's probably a simple fix.
Hope this helps.

Oh, try using the search feature here at Pelican. Tons of useful info on these gearboxes.

[msk1986911]

I have an 86 911 as well. Shortly after I bought it (5/05) I had the gear oil flushed and refilled with Swepco. Shifting eases appears to have improved as a result, although it is not as smooth as a more modern transmission; little more effort from gear to gear. although I like the feel.

MK

[York]

I have had my '86 for several months now, and it took some time to get used to the way it shifts. My recommendation is to shift into second slowly like this:

1. clutch in, move from first into neutral
2. slight pause
3. move toward second until you feel some resistance
4. slight pause
5. finish the shift into second and let out the clutch and give it some gas

I believe that it takes a bit of time for the sync to work. Once you get the feel for it, it goes into gear fine, but you just cannot shift fast. You can double clutch from first to second if you want to, but I prefer the above method. Now I love the way the 915 transmission and clutch work. You might want to check your clutch cable adjustment also to make sure it is within spec. I went ahead and replaced mine last week.

Have fun!

[Hugh R]

Swepco and new bushings made a world of difference on my car. Mines an 84, but still made a BIG difference. Still gotta nudge it into second though.

[rcecale]

godxilla2,

Hopefully changing out the juice will do it for you, or better yet, just getting used to the proper shifting techniques. I do , however, have a question for you.

You said that you meet resistance when you attempt to move into 2nd, from any gear. A couple of years ago I was experiencing a similar occurance. The way I described mine was that there seemed to be something blocking the trans from letting the shifter move into place. Forgive me if this is offensive but the phrase I used was, "It felt like trying to make love to a women who still had her panties on." As hard as you tried, it just wouldn't slip in... Does this sound like your experience?

Anyway, my issue led to this thread. I sure hope this is not the case with yours!!!

Randy

[godxilla2]

Originally posted by rcecale
godxilla2,

Hopefully changing out the juice will do it for you, or better yet, just getting used to the proper shifting techniques. I do , however, have a question for you.

You said that you meet resistance when you attempt to move into 2nd, from any gear. A couple of years ago I was experiencing a similar occurance. The way I described mine was that there seemed to be something blocking the trans from letting the shifter move into place. Forgive me if this is offensive but the phrase I used was, "It felt like trying to make love to a women who still had her panties on." As hard as you tried, it just wouldn't slip in... Does this sound like your experience?

Anyway, my issue led to this thread. I sure hope this is not the case with yours!!!

Randy

Well, mine will go into 2nd, sometimes easily, but often will need a real pull. Or i will need to wait a sec before it goes into 2nd. This happens when coming from 1st or from 3rd into 2nd. It just doesnt slide in, it takes some working.

After looking over the link to your thread, it seems yours just was not going in at all.?

[johncarlos2003]

double clutch upshift til warm- put a pause in, blip thottle, ease her in- you can get really good and efficient with this- or, go first to third until warm then just use a slight pause of doub clutch upshift- i double cluth all day (downshifts) and it saves life and makes for a nice smooth ride- don't worry too much about it-

[dd74]

915 boxes are some of the quirkiest I've ever driven. Replacing the shift linkage bushings helps, and I'm sure new fluid will give additional aid to the box's idiosyncracies.

One thing not mentioned - and not necessarily advised - are the installation of solid motor mounts. I did this, and my shifting vastly improved, particularly the accuracy from gear to gear during downshifts. But that improvement came at a noise/vibration penalty, so be forewarned...

As for shifting 1st to 2nd, nothing can improve this, I fear. It's just something that has to be done slowly.

[livi]

Sounds pretty much exactly what my 915 feels like. Changing bushings and lube might improve matters some but I will go out on a limb here and suggest you are describing a fairly normal twenty year old 915..

[SLO-BOB]

Sounds like a typical 915 to me. I'm no expert on transmissions but I've driven a number of 911s. They all seem to shift like that. I've had at least three mechanics drive my car. Each of them said that my transmission is fine. I tried Swepco-no change. Basically, compared to other cars, the 915 sucks. Some people say they actually like the way the 915 shifts. I find that hard to believe but whatever floats yer boat.

My advice-take it to a mechanic and ask his opinion just to be sure.

[York]

Call me crazy, but I like the quirky nature of my '86 with its manual steering, cable operated clutch and balky transmission. My 968 and Miata are modern and smooth compared to my 911, but they are about to be sold. I think after you drive for a while and get used to the transmission, you will love it. Have fun.

[porschenut]

I have a new clutch, new cable, Swepco, and good synchros. The 1-2 shift is exactly as you describe - slow and deliberate. That's the way a 915 tranny shifts. Case closed.

[450knotOffice]

Mine's the same. I would guess that the synchro is worn out. Either replace the synchros or just put up with as I have.

[rcecale]

Originally posted by godxilla2
After looking over the link to your thread, it seems yours just was not going in at all.?

After a while of having to occasionally wrestle into gear, yes, it finally failed and would NOT go back in. But that was after it pretty much crapped itself.

Preceding the time when it failed, I did experience a lot of what you described in your original post.

Not trying to bring bad luck on you, just sharing a little bit of experience.

Randy

[callmethewander]

i'm a wasserpumper, but let me jump in here please. try this, whenever you park leave your tranny in second gear, see if that makes any difference, it seems to help with the 944's which also are sometimes hard shifting into second, especiallly when cold. I have no idea why it works but somebody posted it in a 944 forum and it seemed help me, and others. g/l

[Joe Bob]

First gear....vroooooom, count 1, 2, 3....second gear vroooooomm....the 915 is not a Muncie rock crusher or whatever they called them....%^B

[DARISC]

"It felt like trying to make love to a women who still had her panties on."

I've got an 82 SC that acts exactly like the above quote. But only sporadically, sometimes 3 times a day sometimes every week or two.

And then, it cures itself after continuing to drive using all the other gears - very puzzling.

Double clutching doesn't help, leaving it in 2nd at a red lght, then taking off in first doesn't prevent it from happening on occasion either.

Without being abusive, I've let the clutch out while pulling back on the stick and occasionaly there'll be a soft clunk and it's in gear & back to normal. Trying this sometimes puts it partially in gear and it works, but is hard to move the lever OUT of first when this happens. Never ever any grinding though.

So, I don't try these things any more for fear of damaging the trans which in all other respects shifts beautifully (it will even go back into first gear @ 20 mph without even double clutching, though I don't do that either). I just drive it and it cures itself eventually.

Incidentally, I moved to my SC from a 99 Vette 6 speed and thought the 915 was a travesty of a tranny until I developed a rapport w/it. Now, and I can't begin to say why, I find it more enjoyable to shift the old 915 than I ever did the slick shifting Vette (which I'm sure anyone's granny can shift smoothly).

I tried a G50 and it didn't shift any quicker, just a more positive feel to the gates (I know they're stronger though), but muscle memory seems to take over after a while and finding a gate hasn't been a problem after my first couple of days really trying to learn the 915.

Hope you'll excuse my wordiness, but I'm a Newbie and my entrancement w/my funny little P car just gets worse the more we drive together (come to think of it, I've never even thought of the concept "driving together" [with the car] until this, my first Porsche!

[RANDY P]

Reload the gearbox with Swepco or Kendall with LSD additive, and make sure the linkage is adjusted properly and your motor mounts are up to snuff. I typically flush tranny every 3rd oil change.

If you must have a short shift kit, make sure it's a factory short shift only, otherwise, stay stock.

Shifting- simply slap it towards the right quickly and back into 2nd. Like above, don't ever force it or speed shift it.

Try to avoid 2nd to 1st downshifts greater than 10 MPH as well.. They hate that.

rjp

[Joe Bob]

Swepco and a WEVO shifter is my 915s friend.