WEVO shifter reverse lockout questions

[mike the snake]

I have a WEVO shifter on my race car.

On the top plate of the shifter, there is a small, teardrop shaped, sprung tab, that looks like a reverse lockout of some kind.

IF, when shifting into 5th, the tab were to actually clear the shift shaft, it looks like it Might act as a lockout, but the shaft never completely clears the tab. Even if the shifter were to clear the tab, the tab itself does not lock, it is sprung in both directions.

As it is now, it looks like it just nudges or helps direct the shifter away from reverse, but I nicked reverse a couple times going from 5th to 4th.

The shift shaft is actually worn where the sprung tab contacts the shaft, a groove has formed.

One pic shows the shifter in 5th, you can see the lockout tab does not flip past the shaft, the other hopefully shows the groove worn into the shaft from the lockout tab.

Is this tab an actual lockout or is it just a "helper" to give better feel?

At the track, I looked, and others shifters were the same as mine, with the lockout tab Not flipping past the shaft.

[Fast Corners]

Mike,

Your shifter does not look like a WEVO shifter to me. It looks more like a standard 915 shifter that has a modified lever and mounting location (the base looks a little different - can you take better pics of the barrel looking portions on each side of the shifter base). It appears that it is missing some of the parts that make it work correctly but more on that later.

On a standard 915 shifter the "tear drop" is a cam that allows the lever to be put into 5th or reverse but if it is working properly it will not allow the dreaded 5th to reverse shift by simply pulling back on the lever. The cam is supposed to "kick" the lever out of the 5th gear plane bace into the 3rd - 4th plane of the "H" portion of the pattern.

It appears that your shifter is missing what is called a "guide plate" by Porsche. This plate is located below the top plate and slots into the two rectangular holes in the top plate. The pressure springs (which look like they are missing too) slip over the guide plate and provide the resistance that forces the lever away from the 5th-Reverse shift plane. Another item that appears to be missing from the installation is a buffer plate.

Someone has modified this shifter, possibly because of the relocation of the shifter base, but in it's current configuration it does not appear that it will work correctly. Now would be the time to get the Wevo if you really want one.

[johndglynn]

I agree does not look like a WEVO. Reverse lock out on a WEVO is a spring-loaded pin.

Some better pics would help diagnose whatever it is you have going on, but I agree it looks like you are missing a few bits from the stock setup.

[mike the snake]

Thanks very much for the info.

The car is a 914 with 915 tranny and the WEVO setup. I asked the PO and he said it was a WEVO shifter. He worked with WEVO I believe so what I have may be experimental or pre-production. The shifter was used by the PO as it is now, but I will look into what pieces may be missing.

I will inquire with WEVO about the lockout.

Can someone post pics of the WEVO, or any other reverse lockout, and any other parts/springs I am missing?

[500_19B]

Here is mine before installation:

[KCTarga3.2]

Maybe this will help
Welcome to Windrush Evolutions - WEVO - Porsche Products check out the PDF of the 915 install instructions at the bottom of the page.

[donporfi]

In this post you can read what Webo answered regarding a Webo shifter on a 914.
Wevo for a 914

If you have a 915 transmission with a Webo sideshifter, you might have a Webo shifter, but by the looks of your shifter it is not a Webo.

[Mahler9th]

That looks like Dave's old purple car...

I suggest the poster work directly with WEVO on this. If the car has some type of proto or special WEVO parts, then they will tell you. If not, they still may be able to help you.

WEVO make excellent parts and are absolute experts so I am sure that they can help you.

- Mike

[mike the snake]

Yes, I bought this car from Dave. I am very lucky.

I looked in the "Bible" (Daves Notes) and the innards of this shifter appear to be all custom fabricated.

I've nicked reverse a couple times, and the feel is not to my liking, Naked, no springs or lockouts. The car already has all the goodies, so as long as everything isn't modified past installing a different shifter, I think I'm going to order a WEVO shifter.

I'm going to have a look-see inside and see what this shifter is about.

It would be cool if I could retain the tall, straight shift lever though.

[mike the snake]

I talked with Hayden at WEVO, and this shifter is a WEVO shifter that pre-dates the present version.
The top plate, may have been switched out for a stock unit though, not sure. No lockout though either way.

After checking, this shifter Does center in the 3rd/4th line, but the springs feel very light.

I'm going to drive the next event and evaluate things. It was probably my heavy handed pulling from 5th to 4th that caused the nicking. It functions OK overall, but i have nothing to compare it to as this is my first Porsche.

It would be cool to have a reverse lockout though. I'd like to dummy-proof it if possible. I may fabricate something myself.

[Mahler9th]

Reverse lockout is quite important in my opinion. If there is something you can make... great. Or better yet, if WEVO sell something you can buy, I'd strongly suggest going for that. Your car gains value and performance with WEVO products.

The transmission parts are very expensive these days, so anything you can spend against damage is probably worthwhile.

What events have you been running?

You have a lot of very capable and knowledgeable local resources. Most are off line. I suggest using the local resources as primary, internet as secondary.

If I can help you in any way, just shoot me an e-mail. I hope that you are enjoying that car.

[tctnd]

I'm guessing that the (stock appearing) lockout doesn't work because the shortened throw of your shifter doesn't allow the lever to move far enough foreward in 5th to clear the lockout finger. In normal operation the lever can be moved to the 5th/reverse plane pushing the finger aside (forward) and allowing you to shift into 5th or reverse. If you shift into 5th the finger slips behind the lever and prevents a shift directly back into reverse. You may be able to remove some material from the finger to restore normal operation with the shortened throw, but if you try this proceed slowly and carefully. I built my own short shifter and manufactured a mechanism to accomplish the same thing.
regards,
Phil

[911pcars]

Get a used factory top carrier plate and install it (top left). It will have a working reverse lockout mechanism on it (yours doesn't).

At the same time, fabricate a tab and weld it onto the shift lever to mimic the one on a factory shift lever.



The above is a factory short shift kit. The regular shifter shares some of the same parts.

Sherwood

[mike the snake]

Thanks for the replies.

I see now how the factory lockout works, mine is not functioning (tctnd, I think you are correct).

I can order a new Wevo shifter with the straight lever. I think I am going to inspect, and lube this setup, run this next event, and then probably get a new shifter.
Everything on the car is top notch and dialed, but I think some improvement can be made with a new shifter.

Mauler9th thanks, I've driven a Trackmasters HPDE, and will be driving again on the 6th at Sears Point. I eventually want to race.