Rennshifter Adjustment Challenges Options

[RickS]

On another thread I read so many glowing comments about the Rennshifter, had to get one. After about 15 adjustments it feels ok, BUTT (does this thread make my but look big?) when the car is stone cold (garage temp 45*) getting into 2nd now involves some grinding and 4th and 5th are unobtainium until i drive the cat stuck in 2nd and 3rd long enough to warm up the tranny and the everything shifts great. Everything snicks into place relatively well with no grinding.

I understand metal experiences thermal expansion so (thinking out loud) when things are cold the tolerances are too tight and if not 100% spot on in adjustment this is the result. The issue then is adjusting the shifter when it’s 30-40* outside before the tranny warms up enough OR I just don’t drive it until the temps reach 50 degrees in the mornings.

Will letting the car idle for a few minutes warm up the tranny too, or does it only gain heat through convection? Guess I could try idling for a few minutes to find out.

This adjustment thing is driving me mad.

[naro914]

What your describing usually happens if either of the little set screws are even a tick loose. Or...if the bolts are loose on the trans mount that hold the trans to the chassis (ask me how I know!)
Or if the adjuster in the tunnel that connects the rods together is loose. Since it sounds inconsistent, something in the shifting is not secure.

If you can get it onto a lift, take off the boot at the rear console and have someone shift it as you watch and see if it hits each gear. Then grab move it into and out of gears yourself by moving the rod forward and back, and rotating the ball and cup in and out of the trans and into each gear. Many times you can feel where it’s loose and if it’s in the trans or in the linkage.

And finally, check your clutch. You may be right at the edge of engaging it or not, so it may or may not want to go into gear because it’s not completely engaged. Mine is pretty sensitive...just a few turns on the tightening nuts on the clutch cable is the difference between smooth and notchy shifting.

Good luck.