transaxle stays in gear when shifter is in neutral

[hannz1]

I just bought a '72 911 on 7/4/01,and already the shifter is stuck in gear no
matter where I have the shifter ,but disenages when I press the clutch.I checked the linkage it seemmed to be in place.Is there any thing I over looked before I start shopping for a new transaxle?

[Don in Redondo]

Are you saying that you cant find neutral?

[joehahn]

Is it your coupler? Remove tunnel cover behind your seats. Sounds like it came loose. If so it should take you 5 minutes and $0.00 to fix! (better than new transmission)

[john walker's workshop]

a previous rebuilder may have screwed up the detent positions, allowing it to stay in one gear while you shift into another. if the linkage looks ok, you need to remove the shift guide plate on the bottom of the trans and align the shift rods back into the neutral position. the rod for 5th and reverse is just inside the hole towards the nose of the trans. if it's in 5th, pop it forward. in reverse. remove the backup switch and push the pin inwards. the 2 other rods are a few inches up inside the opening. align their notches. this doesn't repair the cause of the problem, but gets it functioning again.

[richenry]

The worst case scenario, which happened to me and I had the exact same symptoms, is that your transmission mainshaft failed. If this happened, the clutch disk is just spinning on the failed splines of the mainshaft. Bottom line $1000.00 for a rebuild. I tried all the suggestions above and then knew it was far worse than something simple. Good luck to you.
Rich

[Jim T]

I agree with joohahn, the coupler under the rear seat floor access panel is a cheap and likely suspect.

Before taking the trans out of the car, I'd get under there, look right where the shift selector input shaft goes into the transmission, and have someone try to shift it. If the shift selector input shaft is moving with the linkage like it should, but the transmission is still not shifting, it is likely internal. If the shift selector input shaft is not moving at all, or very much, while your friend is trying to shift, you have a linkage problem.

[hannz1]

I checked the coupler no luck. This is the old dog leg style transaxle (I think it's a 1970) How it ended up in this '72 I don't know why .I don't know what to look for on the detent positions ,cause don't see any kind guide plate .Is that only on the 915 box or do I need to pull the trans to check that? I had a 1975 911s I never had problems with the clutch or trans so this is all new to me . I thinking I might have to upgrade to a post '78 915 if worst comes to worst.Thanks for the help I'm going to keep reading the mannal.

[pwd72s]

So, this is a 901 transaxle? Hmmmm. If you need to rebuild a gearbox anyway, I'd suggest going to one the car came with..a 915. Check the "wrecked-em" yards...one should be available with the proper '72-'73 ratios. Good luck!

[john walker's workshop]

the guide plate is the oval piece near the bottom of the trans, held on with 2 nuts. remove it and collect the oil in a pan. after it stops dripping, get a flashlight and look up into the hole. there are 3 shift rods. the notches must line up to be in neutral. use a screwdriver to move the one that's not lined up. make sure the shift lever that the guide controls is in the notches when you reassemble the guide plate.

[hannz1]

no luck I tried to what it looked be to lined up and it's still locked in to gear.I still don't have much of a comprehenshion of the internal workings of the gears and gates so I don't know what I'm tring to do through that little hole ,and the picturs don't look like what is in there.

[hannz1]

I ended up taking my car to a shop that only works on 911's . I'm having a used 915 put in for $2000. from all places I called told me it would cost that much in parts to change over to 915 from 901 . this guy races 911's so I don't have much doubt that he knows what he's doing.I'm picking it up tomorrow and I will see the out come.