Excessive rotational play in 915 gear selector shaft

[Won]

915 Transmission. Everything from shifter back to the coupler checks out with very little play. But when I'm in 1st or 2nd gear there is enough side-to-side play in the shifter that I can bring it up to vertical where it should be for 3-4 plane. Tried resetting and adjusting the coupler but makes no difference in the amount of slop. I used to have the shifter spring loaded and centered to 3-4 plane, but not right now, so may not have noticed the amount of play before. But also there was an episode recently with someone else driving that resulted in welds breaking at the non-stock shifter pivot cage. Once again, all the play is inside the transmission.

What can go wrong/out of alignment/get bent that will cause excessive rotational play? The plate with the shifter guide have been opened and inspected very recently, everything was tight.

Appreciate your help!

[911pcars]

Extend the observation range from the shifter rearward to the shift tube under the access place at the rear of the tunnel. that range includes all the possible wear points and connections in the shift linkage assy. Thereafter, it's inside the gearbox. I hope it's in the aforementioned region, otherwise perhaps a worn 1/2 shift fork and/or shift tube dongle.

Hope this helps,
Sherwood

[Won]

Thanks Sherwood. As I mentioned everything up to the coupler is tight. With the hatch open I can verify all the rotation that is happening on the shift rod. Having never opened up a 915 I don't know exactly what and how parts go wrong to create this play. Is there a particular part that can be damaged from a single incident of hamfisted shifting? BTW the play is the same whether it is in neutral or in gear on the same 1-2 or 3-4 plane, so I'm guessing whatever part that selects 1-2, 3-4 and 5-R linkage inside the tranny is the issue.

[911pcars]

To give you an idea of the gearbox internals, here are a couple of pics, one a 915, the second a 901 (similar) showing the shift tube and dongle that interacts with the shift forks. If all is well externally and you examined the parts under the access plate, you may have to remove the gearbox and inspect further. Could be a worn pivot where the dongle attaches to the shift tube.





Hope this helps,
Sherwood

[Joe Bob]

Usually it's a bushing issue,,,,,pull the inspection plate, look for shift fork slop.....

[Won]

I wish it was a bushing issue but no... I remember seeing the piece that pivots and has a ball head last time I opened the plate. Is that the only thing that moves as the shift rod is turned? I will definitely take another look inside the plate.