Home  |  Forums  |  914 Info  |  Blogs
 
914World.com - The fastest growing online 914 community!
 
Porsche, and the Porsche crest are registered trademarks of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG. This site is not affiliated with Porsche in any way.
Its only purpose is to provide an online forum for car enthusiasts. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.
 

Welcome Guest ( Log In | Register )

2 Pages V  1 2 >  
 Reply to this topicStart new topic
> Can't shift into first gear, I can do it manually (under the car) but not with the gear shift
drue
post Mar 18 2008, 11:06 AM
Post #1


Newbie
*

Group: Members
Posts: 11
Joined: 9-October 07
From: Indianapolis
Member No.: 8,202
I've got a 1975 914/4 and I haven't been able to shift into first gear for quite awhile. I got under the car and tried doing it manually and was able to do it so I know first gear works. But for the life of me, I can't seem to adjust it to shift into first. Every time I try shifting into first gear, it grinds until I quit trying. And it's such a hassle to crawl under the car and shift into first at every stop light (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif) .
I've followed the suggestions in Kevin's post but I still can't seem to make it work. Has anyone else had this problem? It shifts into every other gear without any problem.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
SirAndy
post Mar 18 2008, 11:20 AM
Post #2


Resident German
*************************

Group: Admin
Posts: 41,633
Joined: 21-January 03
From: Oakland, Kalifornia
Member No.: 179
Region Association: Northern California
QUOTE(drue @ Mar 18 2008, 09:06 AM) *

Every time I try shifting into first gear, it grinds until I quit trying.


if it grinds, i suspect your clutch needs adjustment ...
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/shades.gif) Andy
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
messix
post Mar 18 2008, 11:22 AM
Post #3


AKA "CLUTCH KILLER"!
*****

Group: Members
Posts: 6,995
Joined: 14-April 05
From: between shit kickers and pinky lifters/ puget sound wa.north of Seattle south of Canada
Member No.: 3,931
Region Association: Pacific Northwest
so is it that you can shift it into first with the engine off only/and only by at the shifter consul [under the car at the tranny]?

can you shift it into first with engine on from under the car?
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
drue
post Mar 18 2008, 11:24 AM
Post #4


Newbie
*

Group: Members
Posts: 11
Joined: 9-October 07
From: Indianapolis
Member No.: 8,202
QUOTE(messix @ Mar 18 2008, 01:22 PM) *

so is it that you can shift it into first with the engine off only/and only by at the shifter consul [under the car at the tranny]?

can you shift it into first with engine on from under the car?



I only tried it with the engine off. What would it mean if I can (or can't) do it with the engine on, would that mean the clutch needed adjustment?
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Dr. Roger
post Mar 18 2008, 11:25 AM
Post #5


A bat out of hell.
****

Group: Members
Posts: 3,944
Joined: 31-January 05
From: Hercules, California
Member No.: 3,533
Region Association: Northern California
yes, that or linkage adjustment. but most likely clutch.

understand that when the engine is idling and the flywheel is spinning, so is the clutch and pressure plate.
if the clutch is not fully dis-engaged, the input shaft is still spinning and the gears will tend to not go into gear.

another cause can be the pivot ball, which is screwed in the transaxle housing, has seen it's last days and is need of replacement.
symptom of this is that you will see that the clutch fork is hitting the transaxle opening and the clutch is still not dis-engaging.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Joe Ricard
post Mar 18 2008, 11:25 AM
Post #6


CUMONIWANNARACEU
*****

Group: Members
Posts: 6,811
Joined: 5-January 03
From: Gautier, MS
Member No.: 92
More clutch travel.
If the shifter goes to the gate then quit messing with it. ie. can you go into reverse? then the 1st gear gate is right also.

If reverse is easy to get into then the clutch is also good.
and the bad news is the doge teeth and/or synchro ad screwed.
Fortunately these are the easy ones to fix. don't even have to drop the transaxle to remove and replace.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
drue
post Mar 18 2008, 11:28 AM
Post #7


Newbie
*

Group: Members
Posts: 11
Joined: 9-October 07
From: Indianapolis
Member No.: 8,202
QUOTE(Joe Ricard @ Mar 18 2008, 01:25 PM) *

More clutch travel.
If the shifter goes to the gate then quit messing with it. ie. can you go into reverse? then the 1st gear gate is right also.




I'm not sure what you mean. It goes into reverse easily.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Dr. Roger
post Mar 18 2008, 11:33 AM
Post #8


A bat out of hell.
****

Group: Members
Posts: 3,944
Joined: 31-January 05
From: Hercules, California
Member No.: 3,533
Region Association: Northern California
ahh, then joe is probably right.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
messix
post Mar 18 2008, 11:35 AM
Post #9


AKA "CLUTCH KILLER"!
*****

Group: Members
Posts: 6,995
Joined: 14-April 05
From: between shit kickers and pinky lifters/ puget sound wa.north of Seattle south of Canada
Member No.: 3,931
Region Association: Pacific Northwest
if its the clutch you should be able to shift to first with the engine off from the shifter in the car, if it's the syncro's and dogs you might be able to get to first by going to second or third first then first. or it could be all the above, clutch, shifter bushings, shifter adjustment, dogs and sycros, even the clucht cable tube tube.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
drue
post Mar 18 2008, 11:36 AM
Post #10


Newbie
*

Group: Members
Posts: 11
Joined: 9-October 07
From: Indianapolis
Member No.: 8,202
QUOTE(Dr. Roger @ Mar 18 2008, 01:33 PM) *

ahh, then joe is probably right.



Clutch travel was my first thought and I've adjusted that, but it didn't fix it.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
SirAndy
post Mar 18 2008, 11:38 AM
Post #11


Resident German
*************************

Group: Admin
Posts: 41,633
Joined: 21-January 03
From: Oakland, Kalifornia
Member No.: 179
Region Association: Northern California
QUOTE(Joe Ricard @ Mar 18 2008, 09:25 AM) *

If reverse is easy to get into then the clutch is also good.


not always true.
i had a similar problem, reverse would grind instead of first. and it turned out to be the clutch ...

i'd try adjusting the clutch first. undo the double nuts and turn them in two or three full rotations and see if that makes a difference ...
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif) Andy
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Dr. Roger
post Mar 18 2008, 11:41 AM
Post #12


A bat out of hell.
****

Group: Members
Posts: 3,944
Joined: 31-January 05
From: Hercules, California
Member No.: 3,533
Region Association: Northern California
like troy said, if it isn't a clutch problem, you cna shift into second or third gear first, then quickly into first.
if that doesn't do it then it is probably the clutch.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
drue
post Mar 18 2008, 11:43 AM
Post #13


Newbie
*

Group: Members
Posts: 11
Joined: 9-October 07
From: Indianapolis
Member No.: 8,202
QUOTE(SirAndy @ Mar 18 2008, 01:38 PM) *


i'd try adjusting the clutch first. undo the double nuts and turn them in two or three full rotations and see if that makes a difference ...
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif) Andy


I'll try that tonight.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
r_towle
post Mar 18 2008, 11:44 AM
Post #14


Custom Member
***************

Group: Members
Posts: 24,574
Joined: 9-January 03
From: Taxachusetts
Member No.: 124
Region Association: North East States
First thing, you cant shift a VW into first while moving...all of them are like this.

I would ask this question.
What have you already adjusted?
You may have either a clutch adjustment issue, or your clutch tube may be broken...if that is broken, it will always flex during that last little bit of pedal movement.

Clean out under the bottom of the pedal, and get the clutch so tight that it slips a little bit.
If you can get into first then, just back it off a little bit till its perfect.

Rich
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
drue
post Mar 18 2008, 11:54 AM
Post #15


Newbie
*

Group: Members
Posts: 11
Joined: 9-October 07
From: Indianapolis
Member No.: 8,202
QUOTE(r_towle @ Mar 18 2008, 01:44 PM) *

First thing, you cant shift a VW into first while moving...all of them are like this.

I would ask this question.
What have you already adjusted?
You may have either a clutch adjustment issue, or your clutch tube may be broken...if that is broken, it will always flex during that last little bit of pedal movement.

Clean out under the bottom of the pedal, and get the clutch so tight that it slips a little bit.
If you can get into first then, just back it off a little bit till its perfect.

Rich


Thanks. I will try that tonight, also.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Joe Ricard
post Mar 18 2008, 12:10 PM
Post #16


CUMONIWANNARACEU
*****

Group: Members
Posts: 6,811
Joined: 5-January 03
From: Gautier, MS
Member No.: 92
At some point you will have to face the facts. and quit adjusting and picking a the easy cheap stuff.

When you have had enough remove the transaxle rear cover and get a look at 1st gear.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
ericread
post Mar 18 2008, 12:22 PM
Post #17


The Viper Blue 914
****

Group: Members
Posts: 2,177
Joined: 7-December 07
From: Irvine, CA (The OC)
Member No.: 8,432
Region Association: Southern California
At some point, the daily driver has to ask him(her)self; How important, really, is first gear? If first gear was really that important, wouldn't all of the gears would be first gear?

This probably isn't much help...

Never mind.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
SirAndy
post Mar 18 2008, 12:27 PM
Post #18


Resident German
*************************

Group: Admin
Posts: 41,633
Joined: 21-January 03
From: Oakland, Kalifornia
Member No.: 179
Region Association: Northern California
QUOTE(ericread @ Mar 18 2008, 10:22 AM) *

How important, really, is first gear? If first gear was really that important, wouldn't all of the gears would be first gear?

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

1st gear is notorious for worn syncros and dogteeth ... however, there are a few other things mentioned here that can be a factor and should be checked first.

- clutch adjustment
- broken clutch tube
- shift coupler cone set screws (one at the transmission end, one at the firewall)
- worn shift bushing
- worn pedal cluster bushing, bend arms
- shift linkage adjustment


all of which are cheaper to repair than new 1st gear slider and syncros ...
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/shades.gif) Andy
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
messix
post Mar 18 2008, 01:05 PM
Post #19


AKA "CLUTCH KILLER"!
*****

Group: Members
Posts: 6,995
Joined: 14-April 05
From: between shit kickers and pinky lifters/ puget sound wa.north of Seattle south of Canada
Member No.: 3,931
Region Association: Pacific Northwest
QUOTE(SirAndy @ Mar 18 2008, 11:27 AM) *

QUOTE(ericread @ Mar 18 2008, 10:22 AM) *

How important, really, is first gear? If first gear was really that important, wouldn't all of the gears would be first gear?

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

1st gear is notorious for worn syncros and dogteeth ... however, there are a few other things mentioned here that can be a factor and should be checked first.

- clutch adjustment
- broken clutch tube
- shift coupler cone set screws (one at the transmission end, one at the firewall)
- worn shift bushing
- worn pedal cluster bushing, bend arms
- shift linkage adjustment


all of which are cheaper to repair than new 1st gear slider and syncros ...
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/shades.gif) Andy

andy the eric was making a joke, sorry to say it does'nt look like it translated to german humor very well.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
ericread
post Mar 18 2008, 01:28 PM
Post #20


The Viper Blue 914
****

Group: Members
Posts: 2,177
Joined: 7-December 07
From: Irvine, CA (The OC)
Member No.: 8,432
Region Association: Southern California
Sorry; Most of my humor doesn't translate to any language... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

As DaimlerChrysler Chairman Dieter Zetsche ("Dr. Z") said; "it's a joke!"
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
« Next Oldest · 914World Garage · Next Newest »
 

2 Pages V  1 2 >
Reply to this topicStart new topic
1 User(s) are reading this topic (1 Guests and 0 Anonymous Users)
0 Members:

 

Display Mode: Standard · Switch to: Linear+ · Switch to: Outline

Track this topic · Email this topic · Print this topic · Subscribe to this forum

- Lo-Fi Version Time is now: 12th May 2024 - 07:48 PM
Invision Power Board v9.1.4 © 2024  IPS, Inc.
All rights reserved 914World.com © since 2002
914World.com is the fastest growing online 914 community!
We have it all, classifieds, events, forums, vendors, parts, autocross, racing, technical articles, events calendar, newsletter, restoration, gallery, archives, history and more for your Porsche 914 ...