Anyone ever add a spring in tunnel to center shifter in 2/3 plain? Options

[RickS]

Today for fun I installed the weltmeister (reverse) shift lockout spring kit. The literature says it will help prevent knicking reverse when downshifting. Well, I never had an issue hitting reverse, but did find 2/3 and 4/5 rather vague even with a side shift. I had a tail shifter and that was really vague.

When driving and shooting for 2nd sometimes I hit 4th, or downshifting from 4 to 3 and instead, hitting 5. I know I need to improve technique and it's not an issue when I focus, but why focus on shifts?

I have a Siene systems gated shifter in the SC and there is never a question about what gear you are in or going to. I like it a ton but it is spendy.

So this brings me to the original question, has anyone ever introduced a spring on a short bolt through the side of the tunnel would force the shifter to automatically force it to center in the 2/3 plane? Or perhaps some other method so you know exactly where the shifter is?

Oh and regarding the kit, I followed a couple of suggested ways to install which made it a snap, bit really didn't notice a significant difference in shifts, but that may be because the car only has 65K miles so the original springs were not shot.

[McMark]

Why all the effort to self center? There is a spring setup to help avoid getting into the R-1 plane. But those are very often eroded away from years of use. IMHO, fix what's broken/worn and all will be well.

http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?s=&...t&p=1492421

[JWest]

Why all the effort to self center? There is a spring setup to help avoid getting into the R-1 plane. But those are very often eroded away from years of use. IMHO, fix what's broken/worn and all will be well.

I would say it is desired because just about every other car ever produced with 3 shift planes has a spring loaded shifter to the center gate. It is the ergonomically correct design.

I do agree that huge improvements can be made with new bushings and fixing the reverse lockout plate/huge groove that gets worn in the shift stick.

A second spring will not be helpful if there is lots of slop in the system, and really, if you look at how the lockout plate wears against the shifter you would probably change your mind about a second spring forcing the shifter against the lockout plate more of the time.

My opinion is that "all will be well" is true in relation to the lousy shifting of all the 911s and 914s using 901 and 915 transmissions. That works for some people, and that is fine if it is good enough. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif)

When new they were mediocre-to-bad in relation to contemporaries, so I don't subscribe to the line that it is old and quaint so it has to be that way. To me, we have one of the best handling cars, with amazing feel through the steering wheel, in complete disharmony with the shifting, which is put to shame by a lowly beetle.