Forward/Backward shifter slop?

[markmalin]

Hi guys. Sorry if I've done this incorrectly - I had started another thread specifically having to do with the Wevo shifter, but the issue I'm having is not the shifter...and since the thread Title was specific to "Wevo" I think that thread has kind of died. For clarity I'm adding a link to the other thread below and posting a new thread specific to forward/backward slop.

My question is - I have a Wevo shifter and from what I can tell everything is Ok, but I have forward-backward slop of about 1" when I'm in gear (1st, 2nd, 3rd or 4th - 5th and Reverse seem tighter).

I opened up the access panel behind the front seats and pulled back the boot to inspect the coupler. It seems fine, but what I noticed is, when in a gear if I move the shift lever back and forth that 1" with of slop the coupler is tight to the shaft and it actually moves the shaft part that exits the back of the coupler and goes out to the transmission. In other words, the slop seems to be between the coupler and transmission (if not inside the trans). Is there something between the coupler and the inside of the trans that could be warn? Maybe this is a non-issue, but it doesn't seem right. I've tried to look at diagrams of the entire shift-shaft assembly but I don't see anything obvious.

I'd appreciate your input.

Thanks!
Mark.

Here's the original post:

Question for those who have a Wevo shifter

[tobluforu]

There is nothing between the coupler/rod/tranny. That rod comes through the body and goes right into the tranny. This classified add shows the rod that has the tiny hole in the end that the coupler screws into using the cone shaped alan screw. Second pic, left hand side. When the car is in gear, any gear there should very little slop at at all unless the coupler is worn, or something internally is wrong with the wevo.
FS rebuilt 915 trans from SC

[markmalin]

Hm... I'm sure the rod is moving when I move the shift lever... am I loosing my marbles, or could it be something else? I can check again this weekend.

[JerryL]

If the stock coupler look closley at the side where the pin comes thru the ureathayne bushing, it should be round with NO SLOP front to back.
Over time that hole ends up as an obround or oval adding slop into the fore & aft movent.

Regards

[Joe Bob]

The urethane bushing will crumble over time....BTDT.

[markmalin]

Originally Posted by JerryL

If the stock coupler look closley at the side where the pin comes thru the ureathayne bushing, it should be round with NO SLOP front to back.
Over time that hole ends up as an obround or oval adding slop into the fore & aft movent.

Regards

Ok - checked again tonight and the urethane bushings are sloppy! They're sort of "D" shaped. So now my question is, do I just buy the whole coupler or can I buy bushings alone? If it's better to just get the whole coupler I'll go that route, but would appreciate some advice.

Thanks
Mark.

[Joe Bob]

Buy the WEVO replacement. The whole shebang.

[dicklague]

+1 on that. I have the Wevo coupler.....awesome. Stock plastic gets sloppy with use. and had to be replaced again and again

[gtc]

$200 buys many many sets of replacement coupler bushings. I'm not sure how often you replace yours, but mine have a couple years and 50,000 miles or so on them and they are still just fine.

[gtc]

that's not entirely accurate, since the original coupler bushings are more slotted than round.

Originally Posted by JerryL

If the stock coupler look closley at the side where the pin comes thru the ureathayne bushing, it should be round with NO SLOP front to back.
Over time that hole ends up as an obround or oval adding slop into the fore & aft movent.

Regards

[Todd Simpson]

that's not entirely accurate, since the original coupler bushings are more slotted than round.

Bingo. A small amount of play is designed into the factory bushings.

[markmalin]

Well, I stewed about it for quite a while - doing just the bushings or the whole coupler or the Wevo coupler/joint. In the end, since I have a Wevo shifter I decided to go for the Wevo coupler. We'll see how it works. I realize it's an expense vs just the bushings, but I'm going to give it a try. I'm hoping this will be the last "extravagant" type purchase for the car - the rest should be strictly utilitarian and parts fixing.

Mark.

[JerryL]

I'm hoping this will be the last "extravagant" type purchase for the car - the rest should be strictly utilitarian and parts fixing.

Mark.[/QUOTE]

Right, we are all driving these utilitarian Porsche's :-)

Good luck with that!!

Regards

[zippy_gg]

Originally Posted by markmalin

I'm hoping this will be the last "extravagant" type purchase for the car - the rest should be strictly utilitarian and parts fixing.

Mark.

I almost peed in my pants...
I think we all try to quit making extravagant purchases for our Porsche(s) but it just ain't working!

[markmalin]

I installed the Wevo coupler this weekend, along with a new bushing for the shift shaft guide (the thing just behind the shifter). Holy cats! It's great!! The combination of the Wevo coupler and the Wevo shifter makes it feel almost "gated". It feels accurate and solid. (granted, my synchro's are still warn so I have to shift carfully, but it goes right in when it's ready to).

Thanks for the help guys.

BTW - I don't think my original coupler was all that bad ... as it turns out the cone shaped hex screw on the coupler was loose. Chances are I could have gotten by just tightening that and adding the other bushing, but I had already bought the Wevo and it's really a nice improvement! No regrets there... Now on to treating the car in a more Utilitarian manner

Mark.