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Posted by: jim_hoyland Jun 12 2022, 01:00 PM

I was humming along PCH and stopped at the 7-11. As I left the 7-11; put the car in firs, let outage clutch. I har this sound like the tranny popped out of gear. After that, no selected gear did anything. Engine runs fine, just can't drive.
Tjis was Friday, had the car towed to PCH garage, a couple of blocks away.
Has anyone had this happen to them ?

914Toy,Keith, suggested several possibilities:
1. Cone screws at shifter rods
2. Roll pin in the short shift lever at the rear console
3. Inspect/turn each drive shaft independently and listen
for noises and note motion

The car has a recent Tangerine rear shift console modification.

Any experience and/or suggestions will be appreciated.
@Dr Evil

Posted by: Retroracer Jun 12 2022, 02:15 PM

FWIW I've had something like item 2 happen to me: cone securing screw on the lever inside the (sidseshifter) console. It was close to home so took off the console cover and manually selected 2nd gear (with engine off) and drove home in 2nd .... exciting. On the plus side - if thats the issue - its a cheap fix, and make sure to use threadlock compound.

- Tony

Posted by: brant Jun 12 2022, 02:28 PM

Those are all good suggestions
I’ve had most of them occur
Hopefully it is easy and cheap!

Posted by: SirAndy Jun 12 2022, 04:44 PM

Do you have T1 CV joints? If so, you might have popped one. Should be obvious once you get under there and grab the axle shafts.

Posted by: jim_hoyland Jun 12 2022, 05:08 PM

Not sure what T1 CVS are; VW ?
The CVS are regular 914 parts. Good news is I have a couple of spares.
Thanks for that.

Posted by: Robarabian Jun 12 2022, 05:09 PM

Ill second the CV joint. I heard a pop, had no movement. Everything seemed fine.. It was 1 of the joints. Almost guarantee that's it.

Posted by: ndfrigi Jun 12 2022, 05:49 PM

Jim, since it is at PCH Garage now, for sure they can fix it and probably just minor.

Posted by: jim_hoyland Jun 12 2022, 06:21 PM

What would it look like, is the damage obvious ?
@http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showuser=22865

Posted by: Robarabian Jun 12 2022, 06:30 PM

As @http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showuser=179 said, pull on the axle shafts. You will immediately notice it it broken. Will be alot of slop / free play. When they open it up, it'll be obvious. Usually the cage inside lets loose.

quote name='jim_hoyland' date='Jun 12 2022, 05:21 PM' post='3008236']
[quote name='Robarabian' post='3008227' date='Jun 12 2022, 04:09 PM']
Ill second the CV joint. I heard a pop, had no movement. Everything seemed fine.. It was 1 of the joints. Almost guarantee that's it.
[/quote]
What would it look like, is the damage obvious ?
@http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showuser=22865
[/quote]

Posted by: Chris H. Jun 13 2022, 08:41 AM

Jim,

The way you can tell is if you try to rotate the axle shafts with the car in gear a broken CV will allow the axle to spin somewhat freely. Your mechanic will know for sure. Easy fix if that's what it is. I've broken a couple and the car revs in gear but won't move an inch.

Posted by: silverg Jun 13 2022, 09:06 AM

Had a half shaft come loose but had a limited slip so I coat hangered the loose end level and limped home.

Posted by: Root_Werks Jun 13 2022, 09:09 AM

Guessing a CV as well, keep us posted!

Posted by: jim_hoyland Jun 13 2022, 10:59 AM

UPdate: Car is up mon the lift. With car in gea, we turned the passenger side wheel. The driver side does not turn.
The consensus is the pinion gear is broke.....looking for a temp replacement until I can get Dr Evil to repair.

Posted by: Mikey914 Jun 13 2022, 11:17 AM

JIm,
I know you have some power, but it's not like you have an LS, weakest link I thought was the CV. I'd love to see pics if it is and this is not a normal mode of failure.

Also if it failed, repack and inspect the CVs while they are out.

Posted by: jim_hoyland Jun 13 2022, 11:35 AM

Will do. In the meantime, I looking for a replacement…..

Posted by: Chris H. Jun 13 2022, 12:09 PM

The CV is almost always the weakest link. Jim if you get a chance you could start the car, put it in gear, have someone else look underneath and see if one of the axles or inner CV is spinning despite the car not moving. The axle will sometimes also be loose depending on how bad the carnage is. Still sounds like a CV but I'm no @Dr. Evil.

Posted by: jcd914 Jun 13 2022, 12:59 PM

Another weak link is the main shaft snaps back by 1st gear.
Been there done that.

Jim

Posted by: Dave_Darling Jun 13 2022, 01:05 PM

You said when the one wheel turns the other does not. Did you check to see if the axles were turning? The outboard CV joint can come loose or fail such that it will not transmit any power, but still be in the right location because it rests in the hole through the trailing arm.

Definitely worth taking a minute to check both sides before you tear the transmission apart...

--DD

Posted by: jim_hoyland Jun 13 2022, 01:16 PM

Good suggestions.....Thanks


Attached image(s)

Posted by: mgphoto Jun 13 2022, 06:24 PM

I have a ring and pinion in pretty good shape, let me know if you need it.

Posted by: brant Jun 13 2022, 06:42 PM

I’ll look also.
Might have one

Sorry for the troubles

Posted by: brant Jun 13 2022, 06:43 PM

Duplicate

Posted by: 914e Jun 13 2022, 06:56 PM

Pinion? or spider gears?

Posted by: 76-914 Jun 13 2022, 07:13 PM

Jim, I have a spare 901 sitting here if you want to borrow it. It's just gathering dust so use it as long as you like. And thanks for the Starbuck's card. You didn't have to do that.

Posted by: jim_hoyland Jun 13 2022, 09:39 PM

Thanks. I need to see how to approach this still.

Posted by: jim_hoyland Jun 13 2022, 09:42 PM

Thanks Kent. That would allow me time to repair mine or find a rebuild, plus I have to move my car out of the shop. The shop is a one man operation and space is a premium
Will PM you in the morning
Thanks again !

Posted by: jim_hoyland Jun 13 2022, 09:47 PM

Today, with the car on the lift, and the tranny in 2nd, the driver side wheel would not turn when the passenger wheel was turned.
Then I was shown how it should have worked using a VW on a second lift

Posted by: Dave_Darling Jun 14 2022, 03:02 AM

Yes, that's the wheel. What bout the axles? Look at what the axles do. Before you tear the transmission apart...

--DD

Posted by: jim_hoyland Jun 14 2022, 03:43 AM

Will go back and double check.

Posted by: jim_hoyland Jun 14 2022, 05:52 PM

Final consensus is the pinion. Dr Evil contacted my mechanic and confirmed the nature of the failure. Dr Evil stated ”They fail for many reasons. 40+ yrs of fatigue, period. I have a shelf of pinion heads from boxes I’ve fixed.‘

Thanks to all who opined on this situation. Plus I learned more about other possible failures as well as ways to test for failure.


Attached image(s)

Posted by: Montreal914 Jun 14 2022, 06:56 PM

So, which pinion failed?

The spider gears inside the differential assembly?




Or the actual pinion from the ring and pinion?



Clearly different repairs...
That being said, maybe it is time for an overhaul...

Posted by: Root_Werks Jun 16 2022, 05:22 PM

That sucks Jim. If it was me, I'd pull just the trans, can even leave the heater boxes on, pull the muffler, slide trans off (motor supported of course) and get the trans gone through. Shortest turnaround time to get back to driving.

Besides, if I pull an engine, it always turns into "while I'm in there..."