I got an email from a local 914 owner today asking about his shifting situation.
Sounds like this problem happened all of a sudden.....
....his description:
"the pedal has plenty of give back but unable to find the gears. First gear position drops the stick as if it's going to touch the center console, and still remains in neutral. Able to get it into 2nd gear every once in a while but that's about it".

could be a simple cone screw gone????
or clutch tube???

with the shifter almost "touching" the center console, I would assume cone screw failure?

your thoughts????

It's impossible to give you a simple answer without knowing which shifter setup is used in the car. Tail shifters have no cone screws. In the vagueness of the description of the problem, the clutch could be an issue, or the roll pin in the pedal. The shifter "dropping" could mean the bushings in the shifter itself could have failed, or the spring.

The Cap'n

75 2.0L / side shifter.

Sounds like the bolt on the shift lever is loose or come screw.

certainly my thoughts....

the only real issue is the car is in Manhattan. He's having it towed (AAA) back to Jersey for fix. Maybe to Rory's....

If its easier to get it to me, I can help him out. My zip is 11412

...almost the same distance from you to him and from him to Paramus...plus, I'll probably go to Rory's too to do some other work on his car.

Pinch bolt on inner shift rod in center tunnel sounds loose, under the shifter. Side to side may be maintained, but fore and aft will be lost with excessive stick throw.

He stopped by today and this is what I found.

Click to view attachment


Notice the rod resting op top. His cone screw was sitting on the plastic cover.

He's a happy Camper.

Excellent !
Saved him time and a NY tow job.
Last I heard it was stuck in gear with a " difficult " to move lever.
Could have been anything but proved to be the best thing.

I learned from the best

Make sure he installs a new cone screw ASAP. It has a plastic wade that acts as locktite to hold it in. It likely came loose because someone reused it and it no longer had the holding power. I've had mine loosen up before.

I just put a dab of loctite on my old ones...

Or, stake the bolt.

Hey Paul
I just went back and read this thread again.....I can't believe you picked it off in your first response !
Outstanding !

Hey Ray
You are friggin genius.
You and Paul must use the same crystal ball.

Thanks Rory,

New cone screw was used with thead locker.
I don't think it's going anywhere anytime soon.