Transmission problem with 2nd/4th gear selection, why does this happen right before a track day!!!! Options

[racerx9146]

Hello, I could use a little input on this one.

So less than 11 days to a non-refundable track day at Thunderhill and my tranny won't go into 2nd or 4th. I have disconnected the linkage and cannot engage 2nd or 4th manually. 1st, reverse, 3rd and 5th are fine. It's like there is not enough throw at the side shifter input dongle. It also seems to require a lot of throw to get 3rd/5th engaged to the point that the ball is starting to pull the bushing out of the socket.

Its a 914-6 transmission rebuilt and converted to side shifter by a local Porsche "specialist". About 9 years ago. My tranny has never shifted right since the rebuild and I kept telling myself it was the linkage or something else. Now the problem has presented itself completely! 4th was always "soft" but now its not there at all and 2nd has joined the party. No grinding just no engagement. The car was in project stage for long after the work was done so it tough to try to bring it back to the specialist.

Got any ideas, Is there anything I can adjust with the tranny in the car or should I pull immediately and try to figure it out. I have rebuilt Porsche engines but always stayed out of the transmission world.

thanks Daron

[racerx9146]

So I pulled the gear cluster with the transmission in the car. Only took me about 1.5 hours, not really that bad to do!

Checked console roll pins with a vise, no movement
Checked detent springs and balls, all good,correct order
Checked fork bolt for tightness, does not appear to be any slippage

Paul S is gonna put a 2nd set of eyes on it for me tomorrow night.

Dr. Evil I hear ya and appreciate all input greatly but the thing would not go into 2/4 for anything, even manually with the linkage disconnected. I have done this before in the past so I know what it feels like to get these in gear manually at the tranny.

This is a 914-6 tranny with a side shifter conversion. Is there anything else you have to do to make that correct? Its never been quite right. I have made 3 generations of shift linkages over the years including stock, straight and double u-joint custom. and while each one got better it was never as good or tight as many stock 914-4's I have driven.

all in all a productive night but time for bed, yawnnn

thanks D

[r_towle]

So I pulled the gear cluster with the transmission in the car. Only took me about 1.5 hours, not really that bad to do!

Checked console roll pins with a vise, no movement
Checked detent springs and balls, all good,correct order
Checked fork bolt for tightness, does not appear to be any slippage

Paul S is gonna put a 2nd set of eyes on it for me tomorrow night.

Dr. Evil I hear ya and appreciate all input greatly but the thing would not go into 2/4 for anything, even manually with the linkage disconnected. I have done this before in the past so I know what it feels like to get these in gear manually at the tranny.

This is a 914-6 tranny with a side shifter conversion. Is there anything else you have to do to make that correct? Its never been quite right. I have made 3 generations of shift linkages over the years including stock, straight and double u-joint custom. and while each one got better it was never as good or tight as many stock 914-4's I have driven.

all in all a productive night but time for bed, yawnnn

thanks D

Can you shift it into 2nd and 4th while its on the bench?
you may see something (like a bearing moving in the intermediate plate) that may be causing this issue.
Neither shaft should move forward and aft....
Rich