Been helping my friend fix up a '74 2.0 that came to us in boxes. After going through the shifter bushings I noticed that his stock shifter appears to be spring centered. Has anyone seen this before or is it just mine that isn't...?

I should say it "acts" like its spring centered... It returns to the 2-3 gear plane roughly centered.

All stock 914 shift levers are spring loaded at the base.

The Cap'n

pics

lines up right in between 2nd and 3rd uses 2 springs on a metal guide plate, this gives tension against the spring action when shifting into reverse or first..

Just one more thing for you to fix.
914 shifters all line up in the 2-3 gate.
They all have springs.
You can get the "weltmeister" upgraded springs...a bit stiffer to make it snap into that gate...but its really not a super snap.

There is also a bushing in there....so replace that when you redo your springs.

Rich

Sounded like he might have had one of the Seine Systems versions

What's under there.....Stock spring-large one...Weltmeister spring-small one...two more go where the holes are...one stock, one Weltmeister...the Weltmeister springs are supposed to help prevent hitting reverse when going into second....

Click to view attachment

Not sure... I'll pull it this weekend if I'm that curious. Mine does have the auto-reverse lock out, but his actually will center 2-3.

In other words if you pull it out of 4-5 it will center on 2-3. NOT just from R-1...

More important than the springs, which are more than adequate for the job, is the condition of the moving plate. They were wearing out when the cars were still in warranty, and there probably aren't a lot of cars out there with good ones. A competent weldor could repair one if they're NLA. Sometimes the shift lever itself is worn, too, and that's an easy fix for the same weldor.

The Cap'n

Interesting. I'd love to see a good one vs. a worn one. I just looked up a Seine Systems shifter and its definitely not that. Almost makes me wonder if its hitting something. He replaced the vinyl fuel lines with Chris' SS lines... I wonder...

Not a question.....a statement....under the plate with the cut out there is a bushing and spring....check the condition of the bushing and replace if worn.....what the hell....replace it anyway as it is not fun getting the shifter back together...another of one of those "while I'm in there"......

My shift lever was worn... not too hard a fix even for a non-competent welder











I have the budget 2-spring model

This is a worn out shifter plate.

Weltmeister / Automotion used to recommend the extra springs when installing the short shift kit. I had both and it helped allot to get rid of the issue of hitting reverse, however your right arm might get bigger due to the extra spring tension and no wise cracks I am left handed. I have sinced switched to a rennshift in case someone wants a complete shifter with the extra springs and short shifter.
I will put in the for sale section once I figure out a price.

Geeeez Mark... couldn't ya clean that old grease off there before you took that picture?

DITTO

Funny I just happened upon one of those secondary spring kits while rooting through my boxes.
IIRC you had to drill through the sliding plate and that sucker is hardened. In fact I think they provided a drill bit with the kit~?
I think that is the reason it was still in a box.

Yes they provided a drill bit....wasn't much...had to use better one....and yes the sliding plate is hard as hell......

Nope, that plate is Randy's (RoadGlue) car and the picture was taking in the parking lot of WCR2010. But you can bet that getting this right will be the first stop in my Time Machine™.

I learning something new everyday... This doesn't answer my original question, but it may answer why my 1-2 shifts like me to "go way right" and not glide along the lockout plate.

I'm excited to take my shifter apart now!