short shifter question
 

Sorry if this is an aged old question but I am new to the 914 world... Anyways, I have a 71 914 and just put in a weltmeister short shift kit. Now it is almost impossible to shift the lever. Its super tight, and I don't think its going into all the gears. The car is up on stands, due to other needed work, so I haven't driven it yet, Nor will I with the shifter in this condition. Any ideas?
Please?
Thanks

Check to see if anything is hitting the shifter linkage under the engine...

We need a little more info,

Is yours a tail shifter or has it been converted to a side shifter??

I heard that the short shift kit is not a good thing to do and it may make shifting worse. Is this true?

Its a tail shifter.
I can't really think of any other info.

You need to adjust the shift rod follow the inst. in the Haynes Manual. Steve

Did you install the stiffer springs too? Do you have the original springs still installed? If so remove them and just use the two in the kit.

There were no new springs in the kit. Just bolts, base plate and shift rod.
I will try adjusting the shift rod.

Here are some ideas:

1. Disconnect the shifter linkage at the bottom of the shift rod. Does the shifter move freely? If it doesn’t, then you have isolated the problem to the shifter.
2. Can you grab the shift linkage with a pliers (on the rod as not to mar the end ribs) and move it around? Does it move freely (as best you can move it in that tight spot)? If it moves freely then the problem is probably NOT the linkage on back.
3. Is the joint at the bottom of the shift rod binding up against any of the lines running through the center tunnel? It is fairly tight in there, but there should be plenty of room for the shifter to navigate.
4. When everything is connected, does the shifter move forward and back into gears (like 2nd and 3rd), but not when you try and go side to side (like into R & 1st or 4th & 5th)? If that’s the case then try adjusting the radial position of the rod going into the bottom of the shift rod so when the shifter is in N between 2 & 3 the rod is in the middle of it’s rotational axis.
5. Check your shift bushings and make sure they aren’t worn/broke. Invest the mere pittance and replace any that are. New bushings, along with the short-shift kit should really improve things. At least you won’t be stirring a pot while looking for 1st gear, and if any are broke they may be binding things up.

Saying short-shift kits will make things worse is sort of a half-truth. On tranny’s that crunch into gear w/o a short shift kit, when you add one they will just crunch into gear that much faster. So they aren’t really adding to the problem, they are only expediting it.

I have a short-shift kit and new bushings on my ’73 (side-shift). I really don’t have problems with it (only when I miss a shift). Once you get things straighten out if your tranny is in good shape you should be really happy with the outcome.

Good Luck. --Tim