Shifter free-play 915

[Bob Kontak]

I just adjusted my shifter, adjusting the threaded (allen key) pin and lock nut on the shifter housing to remove the rattling under acceleration. First attempt had less rattle but was like a rattle Jr. - still there. Second attempt silenced the rattle but the shifter does not "flop" around with ease. It is fixed in place - but very very easily moved. I can put it in any neutral orientation and the shifter will stay where I put it.

I am not used to this slight tension and want to bounce it off you folks as to ok or not ok.

Thanks,
Bob

[Oh Haha]

Your sounds about how I set mine up. Tight but smooth into each gear position. No harm should come from this so enjoy it.

I have since added a spring( like the Seine setup) to have the resting position in neutral in the 3/4 plane.

[911pcars]

An option to installing our spring-loaded Gate Shift kit is to disassemble the shift housing assembly, then bend the long sides of the "fork" inward to decrease the clearance (B below), if any, between the shift lever and the fork. The fork is the rectangular steel box that houses the shift lever. The rattle is sometimes due to excessive clearance between the shift lever and the fork. However, in the many shift housings we've seen thus far, most levers are fairly tight in the fork. In fact, we recommend increasing the clearance slightly to reduce friction and allow the lever to move with less effort.

Those using the Weltmeister Short Shift kit may experience more rattling symptoms. This is because the WM shift lever has a slightly smaller OD than the factory levers.

To decrease shift lever play in the fork, measure and record the inside diameter, insert the fork in a bench vise with a large socket (or equivalent) on each side (three hands are useful), then compress the vise jaws as needed.





Note: the fork in early 915 shift housings are of a two-piece construction. Later versions are one-piece.

Suggest reassembly with synthetic, waterproof lube. The lube will also help dampen vibration.

Hope this helps,
Sherwood
SeineSystems

[Bob Kontak]

Thanks very much.

[revmax]

Peter Zimmermann - the author of the book "The Used 911 Story" (I think it's in it's 8th printed issue) has a great WIKI Tutorial on the 915 gearbox. Great insight on the gearbox. You can read it at:

Porsche Wiki

[Hugh R]

Maybe not what you're looking for, but I replaced the shifter bushings on my stock shifter when I bought the car 7 years ago. It made a huge difference in positive shifting.

[Bob Kontak]

Thanks for the info. I replaced all the bushings about ten years ago and that made a big difference. Especially the coupler bushings behind the seats.

It was the rattle under acceleration I was trying to kill.