1971 Sportomatic Repair

panamadre · 09-04-2010, 09:29 AM

The link below directs you to a slide show...the video shows off loaded transmission parts from a 1971 911E Sportomatic which was updated a few years ago but never the transmission. Several months ago the car would not move from one gear to the next. Instead, the car had to be started in the desired gear. Suspect the vacuum hoses on this one. Subsequently, an oil leak developed (bearings/seals suspected) and the car would not go forward or would only go slightly forward with high RPMs. The engine and transmission have since been demounted, and the following parts have been ordered through Pelican Parts which, according to PP, are available from Porsche (3 week delivery): 1) 925-116-081-00 Throwout bearing, 2) 905-116-254-20 Clutch disc, 3) PCG-113-071-50 Seal, 4) 999-113-189-40 Seal, 5) 900-052-027-00 Ball Bearing. Please see the sideshow below to view the worn parts. Any tips or advice on getting this fix correct is more than appreciated.

YouTube - 1971 Porsche 911E Sportomatic

Wayne 962 · Wayne 962's Garage

I didn't look at the video, but the most common failure piece in the SportoMatics is the big vacuum canister that releases the clutch. These develop holes / leaks and need to be rebuilt.

-Wayne

panamadre · 09-04-2010, 09:42 AM

How do you test the "big vacuum canister" for leaks...or is it by observation...what is involved in a "rebuild"...excuse my ignorance....thanks!

Scott Douglas · Scott Douglas's Garage

I just checked my 'new' old servo yesterday but didn't take any pics of the setup.
I found an old bike inner tube (I never throw anything away according to my wife) that fit the fitting on the servo perfectly. Found an old valve stem from a wheel and put it in the end of the inner tube. I then used a very small bike tire pump I bought at PEP Boys yesterday morning just for this job. It worked perfectly as it doesn't take much volume of air at all to move the diaphragm. In fact, you can suck/blow on the fitting of the servo and make it move. With the valve stem in place I was able to pump air in and leave it to check it over time. Hard to do with your tongue unless you like walking around with servo hanging out of your mouth.
I would not recommend using anything but a small hand pump on the servo though. I was thinking about using my B&D air station on it but now realize that probably would've blown up the diaphragm.

panamadre · 09-09-2010, 06:23 AM

Just want to say "thank you" to Scott Douglas and all the other members who have commented on this and other threads regarding the Sportomatic. In my case, the parts that have been identified by my mechanic have been ordered and all through PP. In hind sight though, I wish I would have more deeply investigated the Audio 100 Clutch Disc versus buying one direct from Porsche as there are a few comments in the Forums and also comments on the the cite of sportomatic.org which suggest that the Audi 100 Clutch Disc is the same part and for 300% less! However, I can't confirm this. I'm adding to my parts list, which is in stock and will get her faster, is the vacuum line hoses which are (according to the Forums) a specialty fit, although a silcone hose on eBay my work, and another aftermarket part, have worked in some cases for other owners. The OEM part is only $20 or so; and so it seems to me to be a small cost for the piece of mind as to whether or not it will fit/work, etc. I'll provide another update just as soon as I'm able to advance my situation. I'm bracing myself for a long wait for the parts to come from Germany. Thanks again to all and especially the Sporto owners whose threads on this Forum have helped me and my mechanic get our arms around this situation to get my car back on the road! I love the Sporto. Wouldn't trade it for the world!!

layzee · layzee's Garage

I replaced the hose that runs to the servo with some stuff given to me by a local farm plant hydraulic place. Same diameter and pretty meaty hose.

It still works but alarmingly it collapses with the vacuum. I drove to Le Mans and back with it like this so it must be ok I guess! - still plan to get the OEM hose.

panamadre · 09-16-2010, 03:52 AM

The OEM "Breather Hose" 90510830300 for the Sportomatic vacuum is NLA according to Pelican Parts.

An alternate hose RAM RH7465 reportedly works without adjustment but the only vendor that I can find online is an outfit out of South Africa, and they just reported to me that this item is not available there.

Does anyone have a vendor that sells "Goodyear RAM" items as I'm able to find nothing through Google.

djpateman · 09-16-2010, 07:40 AM

Out of curiosity, what is the type # and serial # of this Sportomatic?
I have some parts from a 905/13.

panamadre · 09-16-2010, 08:55 AM

905/20 7210235

These are the #s at the lower part of the gearbox case.

If you're a historian, I can tell you that this car was originally a police car in Italy.

My dad bought it in Southern California five years after it was manufactured in 1975.

Grady Clay · 09-16-2010, 09:05 AM

panamadre,

Is your 911 a ’75 or ’76 model or the ‘71E?
Is it in the ‘Italian Police’ livery?

Please post images.

Best,
Grady

panamadre · 09-16-2010, 09:18 AM

My care is a 1971 911E Targa Sportomatic.

I don't know what the "livery" is?

I was just a boy when my Dad bought the car and that's how the story goes...that it was a detective's car in the Italian police.

It's all European and there was/is a hole in the Targa where there was an antenna, like an old fashion cell phone antenna, but they didn't have cell phones back in those days, and so it must of been for a radio or something.

I changed the color when I restored it, and a few other things, 72 mirror, electric windows, steering whell, but nothing to the motor or transmission.

YouTube - 1971 Porsche 911E Sportomatic

panamadre · 01-31-2011, 12:45 PM

Just want to add another thread to this discussion as I'm still in the throws of trying to sort out the problem with my 1971 sportomatic. I met with my mechanic. He's 75 years old and has about 40 years experience working on Porsche cars which goes back to when he was he worked with a Dutch airline company and lived in Holland. He's retiring soon and wants to sell his business. If there's anyone out there looking for an opportunity, PM me. Regarding this case, we've finally figured out that the vacuum control valve is stuck in the open position. Anyone have any advice on how to approach this fact?

Here's an exact transcript from my meeting with the mechanic yesterday:

"The valve…the moment you start the car, the valve it becomes open, like it’s short circuited, but it’s not. There is something with the valve that is operating the solenoid without touching the stick shift, the micro switch; so, the only way to operate the valve, that she close and open, is by removing the canon plug right on top, it has two wires, one has power and one has ground. When you remove it, the valve will close. But, you can’t work like that. So, this system has to be controlled by the micro switch on the stick shift. There is something wrong with the wire or the valve, and this is what we’re going to check. In addition, they say, here in the manual, here, in the manual, they say, whenever you change the clutch, and I didn’t make attention to this, here, “checking clutch free plate”…see… they say you have to check all this in order to have the system working correctly…by checking the amount of clearance and all that, on the rods, one, two, three rods…you see…this is the one that will declutch the car…this is the one that is coming from…it is the long…or I don’t know how you call it…the vacuum actuator. See? You have to check that. And, you have to check this one. This is not clear. We didn’t touch this. The “control valve adjustment.” This is what…the next thing we’re going to do. But we have to drop the engine. You can’t do it with the engine on it. You have to drop the engine because otherwise you won’t be able to see it. You can touch it. You can see it. You see this is the top of the gear box. And this is…how do I say…right on top. So, you have to drop the engine in order to get reach of this. This we cleaned it. We checked the outside and it’s working ok. So, I am sure this is ok. And then, what we did, we, the only thing we did, we removed this clip, lift this up, clean it, and put grease, so the system work smooth. But, that didn’t help."

In case anyone is interested, my mechanic is working from a 1972 Porsche manual and he has the complete maitenance section on the Sportomatic. I'm in the process of scanning the pages and having them available in PDF format for those that may be interested. PM me if interested.

Any and all input is more than appreciated.

crater64 · 06-17-2015, 06:30 AM

Quote:

In case anyone is interested, my mechanic is working from a 1972 Porsche manual and he has the complete maitenance section on the Sportomatic. I'm in the process of scanning the pages and having them available in PDF format for those that may be interested. PM me if interested.

Any and all input is more than appreciated.

Is the Sporto manual PDF still available? I need to do some work on my car's 905/20 and it might be useful to have a copy. Please PM me if so and I'll reply with my contact info. Thanks!