Tranny Problems

[carguy]

Hello,

I have a 1972 914 that I recently put on the road. I developed a problem with the transmission and getting 1st, 4th and 5th gears to engage properly. While at a complete stop I can engage 1st gear and it jumps out upon letting out the clutch. Reverse operates fine along with 2nd and 3rd. While driving I am unable to engage 4th or 5th gears even through it did go into both of these gears smoothly once during my last time out.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[maf 914]

If the shifting problem is being caused by the linkage I would first check the u-joint where the linkage exits the engine firewall. Get under the car with a light and look closely at the bearing in the joint. The original bushings were made of a plastic material that can become brittle with age and literally disintegrate. Mine did and I couldn't shift into gears as there was to much slop in the joint. The final failure on mine occurred very quickly when the fragments began falling out. Also check that the set screws which lock the joint to the linkage rods are present and tight. If it is a bushing problem you can get replacement bushings or a complete new joint and do the repair yourself. Do a search in this forum for shift linkage bushings as it has been discussed before (this past year I think) with some photos posted. If it is a u-joint bushing problem, it is a good time to replace all the linkage busings since you have to disassembly the linkage to do the u-joint. If the present bushings are worn out you will be pleased with the results.

If its an internal tranny problem I really don't know enough to help.

Good Luck,
Mike

[carguy]

I installed all new bushings today and now 4th and 5th work smoothly but still have problems with 1st.

Any other ideas would be helpful.

Thanks for the last suggestion for the new bushings.

[John Rogers]

You might want to check the clamp bolt and connector that is just behind and under the shifter in the tunnel. It can slip and prevent gear engagement at either side of the lever travel. The way I do our is to jack up the rear of the car and put on stands. Remove the transmission cover and watch the shift mechanism as someone shifts the lever through all gears. I loosen the clamp bolt and then pull the transmission into 1st gear by hand at the transmission and holt it TIGHT. Have someone pull the lever back into 1st gear position and tighten the clamp bolt very tight. You can try the shifting with the car in the air as long as there is NOT a Quaiff limited slip installed and it will tell you if the adjustment has been successful. You might have to di it a couple of times to get it right on. Good luck.

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

Remember, folks, that the 72 in question would have a tail-shifter linkage, and not a side-shifter. Most of what I'm reading here is for the later side-shift linkage.

For info on the sorts of things that happen to tail-shift linkages, see http://www.pelicanparts.com/techarticles/914_shift_improve/914_tail_shift_improve.htm .

I suggest adjusting the clutch and trying to make sure the linkage is in decent shape. Those are the first steps because they are the cheapest and easiest things to do. However, jumping out of gear is often a sign that there are problems inside the transmission itself. In that case, you may have to open the thing up and replace 1st gear and/or the 1st/reverse slider and so on. For some info on that, check http://www.pelicanparts.com/techarticles/914_tranny_repair/914_tranny_repair.htm .

--DD

[prattrc]

I had the same problem with my 72 1.7. Reverse, 1st, 3rd, and 5th worked fine, but it wouldn't stay in 2nd or 4th. I had to have it rebuilt. Worked great after that.

[larrym]

if all else fails, i have a real nice 72 trans just removed from a conversion project; it's near sacramento; make offers