Stiff gear shift on '82 911 SC

Ivan G · 06-02-2002, 04:39 AM

Hi...I find getting my '82 SC into 2nd gear requires a far firmer action than getting it into any other gear.

This is particularly so with the 1st gear to 2nd gear change but also from 3rd and 4th into 2nd ..... although with the latter two it doesn't feel quite so stiff.

Changing between any of the other gears (up shift or down shift) is really easy

I am quite new to the SC and have never driven another one....so I am not sure if this is usual.

Any comments would be appreciated.

lagoon · 06-02-2002, 10:08 AM

Ivan, this is a normal thing with the 915 transmission. Mine is the same way and considered normal. try changing the fluid to Swepco for better shifting. 81'SC

Sean Hamilton · Sean Hamilton's Garage

Ivan, I hesitated for others more knowledgeable to jump on - I'm the last person to give advice on this as I've only been practicing daily for the past 15 months. I'm still practising 915 gear changes. Not sure if I'll ever master it and not sure that I want to - I like the challenge and the reward when I do get it, just right - silky smooth.

A technique I've adopted and it works for me is to hesitate at neutral position just a little thru the up and down change.
It's a bit of a discipline especially when you're going flat chat thru the curves, you think you need to change quick and want to slam it thru and it just leaves you hanging and baulking the change. Try slowing the shift down a wee bit with a slight hesitation at neutral and if it's like mine it will then slide into gear.

Sean Hamilton · Sean Hamilton's Garage

A tip I was told when I first drove a Porsche (& totally mucked it all up as a novice) was to adjust the seat so that your clutch leg comfortably depressed the clutch all the way in with a bent knee and adjust the seat back to a more vertical position for bent arms steering wheel grasp.
Forget all about other comfort issues - "This is not a car, it's a Porsche! Do ya wanna drive it or sit in ya lounge room?" was sternly yelled at me by the "expert". I obediently complied, took a while to get used to and now I see why.

vesnyder · vesnyder's Garage

My experience is identical to Sean ('83 SC) If I hesitate or catch it at just the right speed it is smooth, but as soon as I want to get on it, it is really balky. Have not tried Swepco, but that is on my list.

Ivan G · 06-04-2002, 02:06 PM

Thanks for all the advice guys....I particularly like Seans advice about not being in "ya lounge" ! I found that by moving the TV set from between the seats, its far easier to get into 2nd now
:-)

pnzr911 · 06-04-2002, 05:07 PM

I agree with seat postion it has made a big diff for me! It's still a bit balky though. I just ordered my Swepco and a new seal(damaged the old one during engine pull-out) so I will see if it makes a difference and let you guys know! I would also suggest you replace the "Lazy Boy Recliner" you installed with the oem seat!

Good luck!

Dana_Drury · 06-05-2002, 03:57 AM

A few notes:

Make sure that none of your bushings are worn (there are three main ones, a bushing at the base of the shifter, a bushing at the base of the shifting console holding the shaft and then two small bushings in the shift coupler.)

Check them, if they are, replace them.

Adjust your shifter per the factory adjustment, you'd be surprised, but while adjusting the shifter, if it wasn't exactly right, it would shift into say 1 and third no problems but 2 and fourth weren't great.

The 915 does need some attention to make sure its setup correctly. Its not a honda transmission.

Early_S_Man · 02:20 PM

Ivan,

Here are the steps I would recommend to improve 915 shifting quality ... nothing exotic, but the sequence IS IMPORTANT ... i.e., don't do things randomly! Start at #1, then do #2, etc.

1. Change the gear oil. The Porsche-designed synchronizer mechanism is EXTREMELY sensitive to particulate contaminants in the gear oil, so annual changes are VERY IMPORTANT! In a hot climate, I prefer the heavier grades, either straight SAE 90, or an 80W-140 grade or similar. Swepco gear oils are great in the 915 transaxle, but fresh gear oil is more important than the brand, as Castrol or Valvoline work well, too.

2. Clean & shim the shifter mechanism to eliminate all play and 'slop' AND replace the ball-cup and shift rod bushings at the same time! Be sure to clearly mark the shifter location with respect to the tunnel opening BEFORE removal! Disassemble and clean the shifter ... noting the EXACT location of all washers, shims, spring washers and clips. Where wear is noticeable on spring washers or retaining clips, thicker washers or shims need to be found and installed so that no play AT ALL is present in the X-Y motion of the reassembled shifter. Lubricate all moving parts with ample amount of a high-quality moly grease such as Valvoline #986. The new ball cup andshift rod bushings need plenty of the moly grease, too! Be sure the shifter handle is centered, and pointed straight up and exactly 90° to the tunnel floor, both fore and aft, left and right ... when in neutral between 2nd and 3rd gears!

3. Replace the shift coupler bushings and adjust. Mark coupler position before starting, just to have a point of reference! The coupler bushings are installed dry!

4. Replace the transaxle mounts ... those front mounts (as opposed to the rear engine mounts) seem to have a great effect on shifting quality!