915 shifting

[kavadarci]

Hi,
I’ve had few manual cars and off course every car manual is different.
First 911 with 915 shifter and while all looks tight to me(maybe some wear) this shifter is nothing to brag about.
Strokes are long, 5th to 4th kind of jumps on you and seeing one shift this transmission looks like old comuninst worn busses.

Am I accurate on this comment or completely off?
I know these have their own carisma etc but was wondering if someone can help me with two things:
1. What can be done to make the shifting faster and more enjoyable?
2. Can someone “describe” the 1st to 5th shifting as I have feeling mine not be what’s expected.

Note: drove Citroen c4 few years back in Europe and that shifter was smooth as glass, my sisters Honda Civic is pleasure to row, my 335 short shift kit manual was just horrible. My 72 bmw 2002 shifter was pleasure, few examples to mention.

Thank you

[kees]

I have installed a new ball cup bushing, shift rod bushing and coupler. Made a lot of difference.

[kavadarci]

Maybe I can start with refresh of the linkages.
Does anyone know what I need to refresh the 915 linkages?

Thank you

[OldSpool87]

Tunnel bushing, ball cup bushing, Coupler bushings.

There are tons of good threads on improving the 915. You’ll be able to find various recipes.

[11and14]

Originally Posted by OldSpool87

Tunnel bushing, ball cup bushing, Coupler bushings.

There are tons of good threads on improving the 915. You’ll be able to find various recipes.

Agree. Also take a look at the Seine shift kit, available from our host. Easy install, plenty of threads to research it:

https://www.pelicanparts.com/cgi-bin/ksearch/PEL_search_2016.cgi?command=DWsearch&description=seine

[Otter74]

In order:

1) make sure all bushings from shifter to coupler are good
2) make sure coupler correctly adjusted. The 915 shifter is very sensitive to correct adjustment
3) aftermarket shift kit, e.g. seine or Wevo or etc. this will add centering between gates and make it feel a lot more modern.

After all that, the 915 is never going to shift like a Miata or a Honda. Hell, even my Fiat Soider has a more modern-feeling shifter.

[sugarwood]

Originally Posted by kavadarci

2. Can someone “describe” the 1st to 5th shifting as I have feeling mine not be what’s expected.

[puddy]

I have mine all refreshed with new bushings and we've shifter and I still has its quirks. I once read that slow deliberate shift are best on a 915, count; 1, and, shift. Repeat.

[john walker's workshop]

They are what they are. You don't shift them fast.

[Pedro '84 Coupe]

The 915 in my car had been rebuilt at some point before I bought it and all the linkages/bushings refreshed. Shifted very well but now shifts even better with a shift lever extension from Seine Systems. They offer two kinds as shown in the pics (from Seine).

[john walker's workshop]

the amazing "long" shifter

[uwanna]

Originally Posted by Pedro '84 Coupe

The 915 in my car had been rebuilt at some point before I bought it and all the linkages/bushings refreshed. Shifted very well but now shifts even better with a shift lever extension from Seine Systems. They offer two kinds as shown in the pics (from Seine).

I have exactly the same setup in my car, with the exception of adding a short shifter as well. (even have the polished base from Sherwood at Seine) . I absolutley love it! The best thing about this setup is that it puts the shift knob right where your hand "naturally"
falls to the knob right next to your knee. I've had six 911s with 915
trans and this is the best shifting I have ever experienced with a 915.

______________________
Grant

[kavadarci]

Does anyone have the list of the parts needed?

[Otter74]

Ooh i love that shift lever extension. I love my newly-installed Seine/SS setup but I have to lean forward a bit and straight-arm it to get 5th. another couple of inches would be great.

[911 SLANT]

I just installed the Seine shift kit and Weltmeister short shift kit. My 1971 911 T with 915 trans. Goes into all gears. What I did notice that the short throw does not let the welded tabs to engage all the way. See pics. Pic. 1 show's 1st. Gear position then 2nd gear position and then Neutral position. Is this normal? Is this because of short shift kit?

[rwest]

Originally Posted by kavadarci

Does anyone have the list of the parts needed?

Just search for shift linkage on Pelican. Search the threads for info on rebuilding your coupler, or just buy a new aftermarket or stock one.

It is just a bushing that fits on the ball on the bottom of the shift rod, a bushing just behind the shifter in the tunnel for the linkage and then the coupler bushings, or an aftermarket version, I bought the Stomski one after I found my couplers bushings had disintegrated. I think it works great, but because it has no slop, adjusting it takes a bit of fiddling.

[rwest]

Here’s a great link

Shift Coupler & shift lever bushings replacement tutorial made easy-step-by- step

[kavadarci]

Thank you

[uwanna]

Originally Posted by 911 SLANT

I just installed the Seine shift kit and Weltmeister short shift kit. My 1971 911 T with 915 trans. Goes into all gears. What I did notice that the short throw does not let the welded tabs to engage all the way. See pics. Pic. 1 show's 1st. Gear position then 2nd gear position and then Neutral position. Is this normal? Is this because of short shift kit?

Think the problem may have to do with the Weltmeister shift stick, it's
different than the Porsche OEM stick. Most folks opt for the Porsche
short shift kit with a Seine. Used to have a Weltmeister SS but hated it
as the stick was way too short.

[mreid]

I replaced the listed components and installed a Seine Gate. What an amazing difference! I made a video to show the difference. I wish I would have made a “before” as the change was dramatic. This is the 915 driven by a 1995 3.6 in my 1975 911.

https://youtu.be/ai-jOCBiQVw