Clutch, Shifter, or Transmission

[Hubberth]

1985 Carrera shifts better between 1st and 2nd if I double clutch, anyone know why?

[Scott R]

First to second has a bit of a "pause" on the 915, is that what you're having an issue with? That aside you probably need to have the gear box freshened up with new syncros and etc.


Is that smoke coming from the back in the picture?

[Hubberth]

I was wondering if new shifter bushings might help. Thats steam after an early morning start in N. Ca.

[timmy2]

Search for the coupler whisperer....

[nettles503]

Originally Posted by timmy2

Search for the coupler whisperer....

Yes to this. I've got a similar shifting issue with my '86. Best advice seems to be to freshen up the shift linkage wear items, like the coupler and bushings first. Hopefully that will improve things for a relatively small outlay of money and effort.

One other thing to try...When was your tranny fluid changed, and what type are you using? There's a LOT of opinion on which brand is best, so I'd do a search for that as well and see what you think.

[strikee]

I have this exact same problem or should i say "feature". First to second there is a pause, 2nd back to 1st is hit or miss. Rolling into first seems to work most of the time, double clutch other times. Some times it just goes in nicely.

I bought the car from the UK and shipped it to Australia. Before it left the UK the vendor, a reputable porsche specialist, refreshed the gear box. All new synchros and a few other bits I forget. I can see some work has been done as all new bolts, washers all around the gear box. Could be they pulled the wool over my eyes (as i paid 1k for the pleasure) but I cant think so.....

So far I have changed the rear coupler to a whisperer. Changed the gear box oil to Swepco (best i could get here). The stuff that came out was good, deffo something has happened "in there".

Next on my list is the front linkage / bushings, the tunnel linkage and then start having a look at the clutch pedal cluster etc.

I cant think it came out of the factory this way. I am determined to make it shift better.

I dont enjoy the 2nd -> 1st gear lottery. The 1st to 2nd pause doesnt really make for a particularly sporty 'experience'

Cheers
Ed.

[timmy2]

Either my tranny was redone before I bought the car or I'm just lucky and the PO shifted well.
I replaced the coupler with Ed's delrin unit, replaced the front ball and cup as well as the tunnel bushing, followed the directions for adjusting and I can upshift and downshift in first and second with no problem. I occasionally have a hesitation if I try to rush shifts into 3rd from 2nd. Running swepco as well. My results seem backwards to others as mine seems to shift smoother when cold and I have hang ups when warm. Must be me...

[wasserkuhl]

1st to 2nd is a pause.

Mine has new synchro's and when cold double clutching is necessary until it gets some heat into the fluid. I have WEVO PSJ, WEVO Classic Shifter and WEVO SS engine and trans mounts.

I have a gallon of swepco to go in.

If you have to double the clutch when its up to operating temperature and you are confident that all of your shift mechanism is adjusted and has new bushes etc.... I'd suspect that you have to have the box rebuilt and replace bearings and synchros where necessary.

The 915 Doesn't shift that well and mostly needs the driver to adjust their style to get the best from it. You should only require the force of two fingers to shift about the box, if you are using more force then you will experience Synchro failure sooner rather than later.

"Soft hands" make for rapid progress in a 915.

Once this is observed, driving one is a marvellous experience!

[911pcars]

Sorry to announce/remind this, but unless one performs a double clutch when downshifting, the synchro for that gear will wear out faster. It's an eventual result The result is increasing difficulty in selecting a gear while downshifting.

Sherwood

[MdR]

Originally Posted by 911pcars

... one performs a double clutch when downshifting...
Sherwood

Can I just check the basic English/American definition?

Clutch pedal down, out of the higher gear, into neutral, clutch pedal up*, clutch pedal down, into the lower gear, clutch pedal up.

*Insert blip of throttle.

Thanks Martin (here in the UK)

[wasserkuhl]

Originally Posted by MdR

Can I just check the basic English/American definition?

Clutch pedal down, out of the higher gear, into neutral, clutch pedal up*, clutch pedal down, into the lower gear, clutch pedal up.

*Insert blip of throttle.

Thanks Martin (here in the UK)

Yep, thats correct, same down here in Australia.

[MdR]

Except the other way up?

[Matt Monson]

There is a fairly large rpm drop between 1st and 2nd gear. The 1st to 2nd shift works best between 4000-4500 rpm as a result. Doesn't mitigate the need for the 915 pause though. But it does really extend the life of the 2nd gear synchros.

[911pcars]

Originally Posted by MdR

Can I just check the basic English/American definition?

Clutch pedal down, out of the higher gear, into neutral, clutch pedal up*, clutch pedal down, into the lower gear, clutch pedal up.

*Insert blip of throttle.

Thanks Martin (here in the UK)

Yes. If done correctly, the coordination between de-clutching/clutching, blipping of throttle, shifting, etc. results in a smooth and seamless increase of revs as the clutch engages the lower gear.

[wasserkuhl]

Originally Posted by MdR

Except the other way up?

Sorry, yes upside down........the blood rushes to ones head dear boy.

[Hezath]

Apparently my gearbox has been rebuilt in the last few years with new synchros etc.

I always double it on the downshifts and even some of the upshifts but I cannot get the 1st to 2nd shift nice, at all.

[Scott R]

Originally Posted by Hezath

Apparently my gearbox has been rebuilt in the last few years with new synchros etc.

I always double it on the downshifts and even some of the upshifts but I cannot get the 1st to 2nd shift nice, at all.

Does it work smoothly with the engine off?

[Hezath]

^ Hadn't even thought of checking that until you said that.

Tried that and noticed that with the engine off it slides between the gears very easily with no interruption. That would suggest to me it's not a shifter issue, right?

Cheers

[911pcars]

Originally Posted by Hezath

^ Hadn't even thought of checking that until you said that.

Tried that and noticed that with the engine off it slides between the gears very easily with no interruption. That would suggest to me it's not a shifter issue, right?

Cheers

Not necessarily, but it could be a clutch disengagement issue. Could be both. Bushings okay? Cable adjusted okay?

Sherwood

[Hezath]

Don't mean to steal the thread.

Yeah the clutch disengagement/cable adjustment thing did occur to me, but I seem to release the clutch a considerable amount before it actually grabs. I had the cable out a few days ago and actually put it back in a slight amount looser than it was (like, a thread or two on the adjustment nuts at each end) because I wanted the friction point a little closer to the floor.