Occasionally can't get 915 into 3rd.

[fetus]

I have an 86 915 gear box that was rebuilt by a local shop. I didn't install it until a couple of years later, so it's out of warranty. Sometimes shifting from 2nd to 3rd, it will not go into 3rd. I have to shift back to neutral, move shifter to the left (1st,2nd plane) and then try again. Usually doing this once or twice and I can get it into 3rd. Sometimes it goes right into 3rd without this ritual. Any idea what might cause this?
I have tried a Rennshift and stock shifter with the same issue.

[emac]

Sounds like your coupler is out of adjustment
Ernie

[75 911s]

2nd for coupler is either toast or needs adjustment. Take a look under the panel behind the seats.

[Reiver]

How many miles on the rebuild....I had a similar balking issue on a rebuild that went away once 'broken in'...you are probably mixing new/old and it takes a bit to bed in. Mine was a second gear deal.
I would check the adjustment as advised too.

[fetus]

Only a couple thousand miles since the rebuild. It's a 915/916 914 setup with a 3.2. So there is no coupler. Just an adjuster under the center console that allows me to make adjustments. I tried every possible adjustment and the issue is still there. To much one way and I lose 5th and reverse. Too much the other way and I lose 1st and 2nd. Otherwise I can get into all the gears, with the way it's adjusted now.

[Sub8]

I had the same issue on my 915. It turned out to be the internal selector forks had not been set correctly. I found the issue after I rebuilt the box myself after a previous rebuild a few years ago.

On my box there was insufficient separation between the two selector forks so essentially I was trying to engage two gears at once. With correct adjustment this issues is completely fixed.

I also spent much time adjusting the shaft coupler thinking it was this......

See this thread:

having trouble adjusting shift forks in 915 transmission.

[M.D. Holloway]

Originally Posted by emac

Sounds like your coupler is out of adjustment
Ernie

/\ this - I had the same issue, changing the coupler eliminated it.

[tobluforu]

There is no coupler on this car.

[fetus]

Thanks everyone for the help!! At the firewall i'm running the PMS shift rod bearing. A pretty precision setup, but has no slack.
914 Gear Shift Rod Bearing Kit - (1970-1976) PORSCHE 914-6/4 - Fire Wall / Bulk Head By Patrick Motorsports Porsche & Mid Engine Performance Specialists
I thought about removing it just to see if it would help. I'm leaning towards SUB8's conclusion, since I have no coupler and have fooled around with the side to side and fore and aft settings, to no avail.