I lost 1st gear!

[NorthGaRob]

1983 911SC

I was winding first gear out and about a second before I was going to kick in the clutch and go into 2nd it acted like I had just yanked it out of gear. Now I have no first gear, I can put it in gear and let the clutch out and NOTHING. The other gears all work fine.

Any advice? Anything that I can look at? (I am not advanced enough yet to be removing my engine, I see a trip to the mechanic...).

Also, am I likely to make the problem worse by limping to the mechanic in 2nd through 5th gears? I am a LONG way, towing would cost a fortune.

Thanks,

Rob

[Joe Bob]

Drop the inspection port under the trans.....see if there are any chunks (read gear parts) in the fluid.

[porsche930dude]

Did it feel weird before it went out and does it make any strange noises. Did you try ajusting the shift coupler or even checking if its loose? I would say if it comes down to being the tranny itself i would say take it out yourself and take it to a rebuilder rather than driving it. Its really pretty easy to take apart. Getting it back together is the hard part

[Joe Bob]

BTW...same scenario happened to me when my 2nd gear took a crap....

[NorthGaRob]

That same day one time it would not go into any gears, I was concerned but it seemed to 'right itself' immediately, but then on the way home from work the first gear loss happened. But other than that, I have detected no strange noises.

I need to look at my Bentley's 911 book, but does removing that inspection port let go of a lot of fluid that I need to be prepared to catch and replace?

Thanks again,

Rob

[Joe Bob]

Yes...if you've never changed the trans fluid and have no record when it was done...probably time anyways. Use Swepco....Pelican carries it or you can go to the local Porsche joint...they usually buy it in bulk and will sell you a gallon and transfer it to your own (clean) container.

[porsche930dude]

I bet if you just pulled the drain plug there would be chunks or no chunks on it indicating if you shoud or shouldnt bother removing the inspection plate

[Joe Bob]

The missing piece is what fell out of MY insection port. The magnet had little or no fuzzies....

[MIK911]

I'm no mechanic, but one day I suddenly couldn't shift into 5th. Turned out to be a $15 shift coupler bushing. Perhaps (fingers cro$$ed) it's something simple like this.

[MBEngineering]

HI Rob
I would be looking for a 1St dog and slider, sincro bands for 1St/2Nd, pinion nut and a gasket set, drop the selector plate off the bottom of the gear box and check what comes out , you should be able to drive the car as long as the sincro band has not bent, inside the box may look a little like this??




this box was driven in this condition for some distance as he was competing and lost 1St gear 2 sections from the end of the event.



good luck with the repair and it is no more than the dog teeth.

regards mike