Wevo shifter installation problem

[mattn]

After some good advice on this forum, bought a Wevo shifter for my 72 911 and a later shifter housing.
All started well. Installation of the kit into the newer shifter housing went fine. Installation into the car was fine except now the shift lever will not move at all. Removed the housing again. Checked the movement of the shift lever inside the housing. No problems. Reinstalled. Same problem. The shift lever does not want to move at all.

I'm thinking it may have something to do with the L bracket. Something is keeping the shift rod from moving. Reattached the L shaped bracket first to the shift housing and then the housing the tunnel. Holes lined up nicely. Started the removal process in 3d gear.

Have a new shift coupler and clamp but have not touched the old coupler yet. Don't want to add another variable.

Any thoughts?
Thanks,
Matt

[JP911]

Be sure the L-bracket is in the correct position. As I recall, the bracket remains below the tunnel sheet metal. Also, put the trans in neutral for bolting up the housing, then use the the coupler to put the trans in 3rd (centered and pushed towards the back of the car).

[mattn]

Good grief. The bracket goes below the tunnel sheet metal? That just might be the problem... That would account for what appears to be the binding. I didn't remember it coming apart that way, but of course that in itself doesn't mean anything. Thank you. Heading back to the garage.
Matt

[James Brown]

yes that L bracket is installed in a not so logical orientation by just looking at it. It has to be underneath the the tunnel, that should fix it. Woops, sorry about multi-posts. That is the only gripe I have with the WEVO, The instructions are vague. But a lot of aftermarket products that are manufactured in small quantities are the same.

[Joe Bob]

Send Hayden a suggestion.....he listens.

[mattn]

It does look like it goes on top, but I will try under the tunnel. Thanks.

[mattn]

The saga continues. Got the bracket underneath the tunnel. Tightened up all bolts and still no movement in the shift lever.
Loosened up the two bolts that hold the bracket up to the tunnel and now I can shift. However, I can look in the hole and see the bracket is moving. That can't be right.

[James Brown]

Ok, pics are now a must

[mattn]

Can send pictures, but it is currently installed. While I get the camera ready, I'll add some info. The tighter the two "guide bracket" bolts get, the less I can move the shifter. When they are tight enough that the guide bracket doesn't move, the shifting is hard, in fact I hear something rubbing.

Could the problem NOW be in the shift coupler? I have a new one, but haven't yet loosened the old one, thinking one variable at a time. However, the old guide bracket bushing was broken and gone. Could be that with a new guide bracket bushing it is now holding the shift rod in a new position. Does that make any sense?

I'll go get a couple photos....

[James Brown]

Is the shift rod binding on the bushing?

[mattn]

my guess is yes. The tighter the guide bracket bolts, the less the guide bracket moves, the harder it is to shift. And I do hear some rubbing but don't know yet whats rubbing.

Working on a photo too.....

[James Brown]

there are some washers that go on the top of the bracket as well as I can remember.

[mattn]

Interesting. This is an unusual case for a couple reasons. While installing the Wevo shifter I removed an aftermarket short shift kit. By doing some online research, I think that the aftermarket short shift kit required the bracket to be installed ABOVE the tunnel sheet metal. I am now installing it below the tunnel. I had no washers.

[mattn]

attached is a photo. Not sure it helps and I couldn't add any notes to it and save as a JPEG. The two side by side bolts on the left are the guide bracket bolts.

[wevoid]

The "L" bracket absolutely, definitely goes on top of the tunnel. there is a rebate in the bottom of the base casting that accommodates the "L" bracket.
If the shifter handpiece has freedom of movement when it is out of the car, the problem is not the assembly of the handpiece.
Look for interferences in the many parts in the system.
Make sure the main shift tube moves feely in the new bushing you installed, make sure that the "L" bracket is not bent or deformed as a result of the bogus advice given to you above and the incorrect installation you experimented with.

Regards

Hayden

[James Brown]

Ahhh, crap. looking at my paperwork and I have a Rennshift!!! sorry for screwing up your time...

[JP911]

Damn. Sorry if I steered you wrong.

[mattn]

James Brown, JP911, no problem. I appreciate the help and all experimentation is learning.

Off work today so heading back out to the garage and will try the bracket on top.

so to sum up:
1. the shifter lever does have freedom of movement when it is out of the car, so the problem is not the assembly of the shifter base and assembly.
2. The main shift tube does move freely in the new bushing I installed
3. The "L" bracket does not seem to be bent or deformed due to any experimentation.

But on tightening the L bracket, it appears to be binding the shift tube's movement.

[mattn]

Bracket installed on top of the tunnel. With all bolts tightened, no movement in the shift lever. With the rearward three bolts loose, the lever shifts. (the base also moves and the bolts visibly move). It appears that the L bracket, when tightened, is holding the shift tube in a position that binds movement.

This was supposed to be easy, wasn't it?

[Craig_D]

Yes the L Bracket does go on top of the shifter tunnel and slots into the shifter base. I'm not sure what would cause that much binding though. You could always mark (for reference with a grease pen) the shift coupler then loosen it to make sure the shaft is moving freely once the shifter is installed with the L Bracket on top of the shifter tunnel.

Good luck!

- Craig