vague shifter feeling.

atlporsche · 11-26-2002, 05:35 AM

I understand that my car is 30+ years old, but the shifter just feels "vague". I haven't been in another 912 (or porsche for that matter) so i could compare the shifter feeling. All the gears engage correctly, it's just that finding them can be a chore without enough concentration.

it doesn't seem to have that "return to center" feel it just kind of flops back and forth. I can feel the tension going into reverse, so i put the car in reverse, but still get about 1" of lateral movement once the gear is engaged...are there just a couple of stops I can adjust?? or is that little nylon seat the culprit?

sorry if the description is vague...

sjd

Morrie · 11-26-2002, 06:01 AM

If your shifter feels like a screwdriver in a bowl of marbles, then its probably shift bushings that you need to look at first.

There are two inexpensive ones under the shifter lever itself. They are the ball cup and tunnel bushings. The final culprit is in the access panel between the rear seats on the floor. This is the shift coupler. If the bushings are shot here, you'll have all sorts of trouble. Bushings in the coupler can be replaced, but IMHO its not worth it. Buy a new coupler. The effort required to press out the center pin and reinstall it is best left to a machine shop and by the time you pay their minimum fee, you may find yourself close to the proce of a new coupler.

Morrie
67 912 Coupe

atlporsche · 11-26-2002, 06:11 AM

screwdriver in a bowl of marbles would be tight compared to my shifter... how tight should the coupler bushings be?? mine seems to have a lot of forward and backward play in it... I have a spare, I'll probably just stick it in there and see what happens.

I'm more mechanically inclined than your average automobile owner.

I'm suspecting the tunnel bushings right now, as well as the ball cup...we'll see.

There's just no resistance when shifting...the stick just flops around with NO effort.

thanks for the help.

sjd
beginning to think 1 owner cars aren't all that great.

Griznant · Griznant's Garage

Mine is the same way. If you pull the access panel off on the rear tunnel and move the shifter you'll see part of the problem. The other problem is under the shifter itself. One is the bushing at the bottom of the shift lever, and the other is the sleeve bushing the shift rod rides in. Mine were all shot, and the shifter worked as well as you describe yours. Grab a hold and throw it in any direction and you'll get a gear. Some gear.

The bushings need to be replaced. Check them all to see which ones are shot. My guess is all of them.

Later,

G

skystryd · skystryd's Garage

did the checks.. mine is not quite as loose (944 more loose on a good day!)
do have noise in third.. gotta be link adjust here somewhere.
luck with yours.
chuck
67 912
65 mgb
others of lesser class

atlporsche · 12-06-2002, 04:36 AM

it was the bushings....man was it the bushings.

the doughnut shaped one was non-existant, and the cup bushing was disintegrated...

it's sooooo nice now.

sjd

Morrie · 12-06-2002, 05:11 AM

Ain't it cool when it's NOT the most expensive part that makes the biggest difference for once!

Happy Shifting!
Morrie
67 912 Coupe

atlporsche · 12-06-2002, 06:11 AM

it sure is....

unfortunately, I undid the coupler without marking position...spent another 1/2 hour trying to get it "just right"

sjd

bob tilton · bob tilton's Garage

my shift lever was the same way. i put a short shift kit in it and liked it until i replaced the ball cup bushing, tunnel rod bushing and new shift coupler. then the short shift felt terrible so i re-installed the orig lever. what a difference. the tunnel rod bushing was completely gone which might have explained the rattling lever at freeway speeds. now it's like butter. i managed to find a new used shift coupler unit at EASY even though i had new bushings. just didn't want to spend the time and frustration to install them plus the used unit was real inexpensive.
bob
68L

bmwloco · 12-08-2002, 12:57 PM

I did the same thing Bob did - installed a short shifter, then went back to original.

While restoring the pans in my '67 Targa, I replaced all the bushings and rubber bits in my tranny tunnel. It's now, as previously stated, like butter.

Sigh. I can't wait to get "off ice" and finish my mechanical restoration. Paint is next - and I'm in no hurry. I figure I'll need at least $8k to do it right.

Big D · 12-09-2002, 10:20 AM

I found the tunnel bushing in pieces in the trunk and the ball was not in the cup bushing. It was just sitting in the top of the housing. My question is how come the short shift kit doesn't work with all new bushings including coupler. You guys have already saved me money for that was my next purchase alter reading how great these short shifters worked on another web-site. I am having a new coupler built and the other bushings are replaced. Can't wait ti feel the result. Thanks out there. DG