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914World.com _ 914World Garage _ Shifting problem

Posted by: Yoei66 Apr 22 2005, 11:29 AM

I drove to work today, and had a shifting problem at the end of my trip. It became hard to find the gear positions, and when in gear the stick stays very loose. I can actually wiggle it about 4 inches side to side while in gear. Could something be loose? Hopefully I can get home before totally loosing shifting ability.

Posted by: Joe Ricard Apr 22 2005, 11:42 AM

Sounds like you are losing a screw. The one at the firewall connection of the shift rod. Hopefully the hole is not stripped out. I have heard that you can helicoil the piece and be good to go again. I bit the bullet and bought new piece. $$$
What condition are all you plastic shift bushings in? might have dropped on of them out.

Posted by: smg914 Apr 22 2005, 11:48 AM

It's very possible that the shift rob bushing at the firewall just got old and dry and fell apart. Hopefully that is all it is because this is a easy fix.

Posted by: Root_Werks Apr 22 2005, 11:56 AM

QUOTE (smg914 @ Apr 22 2005, 09:48 AM)
It's very possible that the shift rob bushing at the firewall just got old and dry and fell apart. Hopefully that is all it is because this is a easy fix.

Or the one back on the trans, or even the ball cup? Both also easy and cheap fixes. Any one of those three and you should make it home no problem.

Posted by: lapuwali Apr 22 2005, 12:13 PM

Hm. If it happened that quickly, I'd wonder if it were any of the bushings. The U-joint thing may have broken, or the cone screw backed out (and probably fell out and is gone), or a weld broke. In any case, you have a side-shifter, so do a search here on side-shifter repairs. The Haynes manual has a good diagram of the system (you have the "late" shifter). You'll really need to check everything. These things usually decay over time, they don't just suddenly have a problem.

Posted by: Yoei66 Apr 22 2005, 12:39 PM

The PO replaced the shift bushings, with a kit from PP last year. It was shifting quite accurately, till this morning. I’ve heard about the cone screw falling out on other 914’s before, and I know where it is. I’ll check this out when I get home, hopefully under my own power.

Posted by: Yoei66 Apr 22 2005, 02:21 PM

I pulled the boot at the firewall back, and two bushings droped out. Do these insert from the sides?

Posted by: smg914 Apr 22 2005, 02:28 PM

No, they install from the center (inside) of the coupler.

Posted by: smg914 Apr 22 2005, 02:38 PM

Here is a picture of the coupler showing the 2 bushings in place.

Attached thumbnail(s)

Posted by: Sparky Apr 22 2005, 03:03 PM

Damn Steve thats too clean go get it dirty!!

Posted by: Yoei66 Apr 22 2005, 03:18 PM

OK, to get my butt home I've temporarily installed them from the outside. I have the full range of shifting again!

Looking at Steve's picture, it should have been impossible for the bushings to pop out. The PO must have installed them backwards, the way I have them now. This would explain why they fell out. I'll be installing them correctly this weekend. Thanks everyone for the assistance!! Once again the 914Club forum has saved my ass!

Posted by: Rand Apr 22 2005, 03:27 PM

QUOTE
should have been impossible for the bushings to pop out

Agree, looks like the flanges wouldn't let them fall out (unless they deteriorated and broke loose). The flanges were on the outside? Well at least that will keep them from falling into the middle (yeah right).
Glad it's nothing more serious!

Posted by: Yoei66 Apr 22 2005, 03:47 PM

Ha!

These things look brand new, and are urethane, I believe OEM is rubber. Not deteriorated, not even worn. These must be the shift bushings the PO told me he replaced. Hopefully my shifting improves even more, one they are installed in the correct orientation.

Posted by: merrill Apr 22 2005, 05:53 PM

Let us know how it works out.

Posted by: Yoei66 Apr 23 2005, 09:28 PM

OK, I made it home no problem, with the bushings re-installed backwards. I've put my car up on jackstands, and am working on trying to insert the bushing correctly. Anyone know how to get these flipin' things inserted? I think I understand why the PO inserted them from the outside, looks like some kind of magic trick is required to insert from the inside.

Posted by: 9144guy Apr 23 2005, 09:33 PM

if you have a vice, use a socket out of your tool box and press it in, then push the othersie in with smaller socket and a washer small id and big od

Posted by: Yoei66 Apr 23 2005, 09:43 PM

OK got that part. How do I remove the dowel which makes the "T" at the end of the from the inside of the casting. I don't see any set screw.

Posted by: 9144guy Apr 23 2005, 09:45 PM

punch and a hammer drive the pin through, will be tough, put bushings in the drive back in

Posted by: Yoei66 Apr 23 2005, 09:59 PM

Thanks 914Guy, I didn't realize that it was a press fit.

As someone has previously welded the union to the rod going back to the tranny, it looks like I'll have to remove that whole rod, before I start hammering the pin out.

Posted by: 9144guy Apr 23 2005, 10:03 PM

yea, its common, i see it alot at work, when knocking that pin on it needs to be on something solid

Posted by: Rob Ways Apr 23 2005, 10:03 PM

Be careful taking the pin out. You don't want to crack the aluminum casing. Sometimes that pin is frozen, hence the PO may have tried to rig something from the outside. They do come off though.

Good luck!

Posted by: Yoei66 Apr 24 2005, 01:43 AM

Repair complete! Went for a test drive, my shifting is now the best I've experienced since buying the car.

Once again the forum has saved me lots of time & made the job a lot easier. Thanks for the advice getting me thru yet another 914 issue/repair