Holy Shi

[DSPTurtle]

ft Coupler Bushings Batman!!! I owe Tom at Pelican a load of thanks. As I was ordering suspension bushings I was complaining about how the shifting just does not seem right even though I replaced all the bushings (or so I thought) and added the reverse lockout kit from Weltmeister. Anyway, Tom explained about the shift coupler bushings. It was a lot of work to get it apart to replace the bushings (thank goodness I have a parts car, I destroyed my original shift coupler as I was beating out the shaft). Once I got it all back together I could not believe how much difference those two little bushings made. I went from having an inch of play in all directions, to virtually no play at all. It is almost as tight as my 2001 Passat!!! For anyone who has not replaced these bushings and has a sloppy shifter, you gotta do it. It is like a whole new car!!! Thanks Tom and thanks Pelican for having such a knowledgable staff!!!!!!!!!
If anyone wants to see pics of the installed bushings (in case you want to see how to do it) just let me know and I would be glad to send them.

[Va914]

I would like to see them. I hope that will be the fix I am looking for.

VA914@hotmail.com

Thanks

[Pinseekers]

I'd like to see them as well!
Pedro

[DSPTurtle]

Here is the pic of the coupler disassembled...

I will post a second Pic with the PP bushings installed.

[DSPTurtle]

The coupler on the right has the bushings from Pelican installed (it was also cleaned up a little better than the one on the left). Not sure why this step is not in the shift linkage tech article. Maybe someone can figure out how to add to it...


Let me know if you have any questions. That pressed in rod is about the only tough part of this job!!!

[JP Noonan]

Looking at the first of the pix I notice what appears to be a crack in the aluminium part of the joint. This was my concern when putting in new bushings... If you go all out whacking the press pin with a "Polish purswader" how do you keep the force off the alum part???

First I used PB Blaster (NOT WD-40, maybe use Liquid Wrench, but not WD-40) and clamped the steel part of the rod in a small vice. Alternatively you could use a deep depth socket on the the steel part after you dug out the old bushing.

Kinda know what I mean??? Wish I had one of those new fangled digital cameras....

[green71]

DPSTurtle,

I've been considering replacing all of the bushings on my tail shifter. I've read both technical articles & haven't yet found the answer to this question: Do you have to remove the tranny to do this?

Thanks,

Mark

------------------
1971 1.7l 914

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

No, just the rear shift rod. Note, however, that this is for a side-shifter linkage. The original setup in a 71 would be a tail-shifter, so it would not have this coupler or these bushings.

(Well, a Six would have something similar--but not a Four.)

--DD

------------------
Pelican Parts 914 Tech Support

A few pics of my car: http://www.pelicanparts.com/gallery/Dave_Darling

[braxtona]

So I scrounged through the PP online catalog and I cannot find these at all. I see them for the tail shifters but not a side shifter. Could someone cure my ignorance and give me a link or a part number so I can find these suckers!

Thanks-

[maf 914]

I replaced the shift rod coupling bushings some time ago after the originals had literally disintegrated (pieces of brittle black plasic were falling out). The results were great. This was after I had replaced all of the other plastic bushings and installed the weltmeister spring lockout kit in an attempt to improve the shift feel. If you haven't replaced them, chances are no one else has either! If you haven't done so already, I recommend that all of the bushings, including those for the shift coupler, be replaced. The improvement is worth the effort.

Mike

[green71]

Dave -

I want to make sure I understand this . . . you're right, my tranny is a tail shifter. I understand it wouldn't have this coupler/bushing assembly. However, I'm interested in shifting improvements to be gained from replacing the other bushings along the shift linkage assembly. Certainly more needs to be removed than just the rear shift rod?

Thanks,

Mark

------------------
1971 1.7l 914

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

I know that we do, or at least at one point did, sell the coupler bushings. I have a pair of them at home right now, a door-prize from last year's Mid-US Ramble, donated by Pelican Parts. If you don't find them in the catalog, try calling 888/280-7799 and asking the sales guys about price and availability.

Mark, you'll also have to remove the front shift rod (or at least the gear shift lever) to replace some of the bushings on the tail-shift linkage. I don't think you have to dig into the tranny itself.

One way you can try to find where the slop is--grab the part of the linkage that goes into the transmission. Have someone wiggle the gear shift lever around. Look for parts that are moving. In between the parts that move and the parts that don't is where you'll find slop. There are often bushings in those joints--replace the bushings.

You can repeat the test for various parts of the linkage by grabbing parts that are further forward and holding them still while looking for movement in the rest.

--DD

------------------
Pelican Parts 914 Tech Support

A few pics of my car: http://www.pelicanparts.com/gallery/Dave_Darling

[braxtona]

Wahoo! I just talked to someone in sales (I missed his name) and he pointed me to the right spot. They're the same bushings/coupler as the early 911. So for the bushings.

Here's a link:
http://pelicanparts.com/catalog/shopcart/911E/por_911E_pedals_main.htm
Here's the description:
Shift Coupler Bushings, pair, 911/912 (1965-86)
And here's the part #.
C-424-223-03

[914rrr]

If memory serves, the 911 and 914 bushings are different. The through hole on the 914 bushings are a straight hole whereas the 911's are more of an oval (front to back). Used to be the only way to get the "proper" 914 bushings was to buy the entire coupler w/ bushings.

[braxtona]

We'll loking at the pictures it looks the same. So I bit the bullet and ordered the 911 bushings. I'll post an update when I get them for wether they worked or not.

[DSPTurtle]

They were in fact 911 bushings that I installed.