Texas in the Spring

Hey Doc,
Count me in and pls tell me how to get a copy of your dvd. I live in east TN and that would be a short drive for me. Let me know how to get in touch w you directly. This method is time consuming to say the least.
Dave

Hi Doc,

Not sure how to start discussion with you on this sight, so please indulge me with the following question:

I was talking to an experienced Porsche transmission mechanic today about I often have difficulty engaging second gear when the car is at a standstill - no other problems with my tranny. He said that the first gear design is different from second gear on up as first is designed to allow easy engagement when the car is stationary, where as the other gears are suited to engagement when the car is moving forward. I told him of the high regard we "914ers" have of you and he suggested I check his opinion on this difference between engaging gears when our cars are stationary. What is your opinion?

Thanks, Keith.

Hey Keith,

I am always available through PM or email for you or anyone, I address stuff like this all the time

As to your question, its kind of correct, but not clear. For shifting you need to understand the physics and mechanics behind how the transmission shifts:

You move the stick-->through rods the shift fork is actuated--> slider is pushed against the synchro band which has a rough parkerized coating on it that acts similar to a tire tread, it is intended for friction--> through the slider pushing on the synchro band the selected gear is sped up or slowed down to the speed of the shaft that the slider is attached to--> the slider then slides over the synchro band, locks against the dog teeth, and the band obtains some tension in all of this which enables it to retain the slider onto the teeth.

The above happens with every shift, quickly. Now, as far as some gears being designed to shift when stationary, that's not correct. 1st is different, but that is only because you do not "up shift" into first and thus internal to the dog teeth there is one energizing band rather than two (one for up and down shift). I don't have pics to better explain, but the general concept is all I am trying for at the moment. There was an actual bulletin from Porsche on 901 equipped cars instructing NOT to down shift into 1st as it is not necessary and caused premature failure of first gear parts. There are stickers placed in the books for the cars seen at the dealer/service places after this announcement/change.

As for not being able to shift into 2nd at a stand still, this is telling us a few things. You should be able to shift into any gear at any time, essentially. It will be harder the further apart the gears are in ratio and RPM; like harder to shift into first at 50mph. However, at a standstill you should have no issue hitting all of the gears UNLESS your clutch is dragging. When your clutch is dragging it causes the parts of the synchro package on the gear ( for 2nd would be synchro band, blocks, and energizer bands) to push the synchro band out and that makes sliding the slider on harder and can cause grinding or lack of engagement. If you are not getting grinding, then the synchro band is expanding very far and keeping the teeth of the slider from engaging/hitting the dog teeth.

Now, this assessment is based on my interpretation that you have an issue, that is constant, where you cant select 2nd at a standstill. I didn't see any further symptoms to go on so I went a little broad. Consequently, I often block out 1st completely on larger displacement engines with torque levels high enough to make 1st unnecessary and likely to be broken. These cars have no issue selecting 2nd at a stand still

Happening Dec 30-31.


UPDATE 11/1/17 - Address is
3200 Roxbury Rd
Charles City, VA 23030

Don't stay at the Star Motel! Its close, but nasty.

After talking with some folks, I think it would help to know ball park figures on repair cost as parts will depend on your needs. Usual cost including tuition, new bearings, seal kit, and the usual worn out parts (All used parts - 1st teeth/band/slider, 2nd teeth/band/slider) is about $1450. The maximum cost I could calculate with all parts, the bearings, seal kit, tuition, and a new 1/R slider is $1900.

Also, say your box needs something done, new R/P which I will not have time to replace likely at the clinic, I will take it back with me and do it at the shop and ship it out to you. With shipping, parts, labor this scenario would cost you an additional $550. So, worst case then would be $2450. Not bad for a rebuilt Porsche transmission. However, this scenario has never happened. Food for thought.

If you want to save $100-115 on shipping then feel free to drop off any box you want rebuilt to Scotty's shop and I will retrieve it after the clinic and take it back to the shop and place it in line for rebuild.

Also, contact me if you have cores local or between Columbus, OH and Richmond, VA for sale as I may be interested in picking some up.

UPDATE 10/22/17 - This is happening the weekend of New Years, Sat and Sun. Plan for a long session Sat in particular. Since the list is more finalized I will set up PM with info on bearings and such. I can group buy stuff and save you lots of $$.

Original post:
"So, some of you have kept up with my shit show of a personal life and can understand why I was not doing clinics for a while. Also, I have had to adapt and research to changes in our boxes as what worked 10 yrs ago may not work now; ex would be using old bearings. I have secured a source for new bearings and have verified in many builds that they are robust, and to factory spec, so they can be easily installed. Thus, I am able to once again start offering clinics as my time allows.

I have discussed it with Scotty B and he has graciously offered up his new shop near Richmond, VA as a venue for the clinic. It is within half a days drive for me so it is doable without me missing days from my day job that pays my bills. As soon as I get more time off saved up I will look into doing other clinics around the country, and Canada (yo, Mark!).

So, how does this go? Since there are a lot of new folks on here, click on the links in my sig below to see how we have done these in the past. I am keeping the cost the same ($300/head and 18 and below are free, free to spectate, take pics, etc), but expect to buy new bearing sets off of me. If you insist on using old bearings, I will not warranty that they will last. The more people that we get bearing sets, the cheaper for everyone. Not sure what I will cut off the class size at, I haven't been to Scotty's shop yet to see and will talk more with him as we have done them at his old place in the past and he is savvy.

When? Towards the end of the year is the earliest. Early Dec is looking like a possibility.

Lets see what interest we can generate!

Also, I am always willing to do a clinic here at my shop in OH, 43160. However, I am planning to sell the house/barn and move to the city and I am not sure I will have such a luxurious structure to do such things at in the future. (Divorce is a bitch!).

Guys from LA and NorCal have contacted me privately, they are needing/wanting, and I would love to meet that need as soon as I can. I just need to time off of work.

Washington, Mr242 has lit the fire and you are on my radar.

Canada, I can drive it in a day and Mark has a great place to host (and he just basically kicks ass).

Any others wanna throw their location in as a possible?

Post up here if interested, PM me if very serious and I will assemble a list of parts purchasers so I can see about getting a group discount from my suppliers. Man, I missed doing these "

VA clinic list update 11/1/17


wndsrfr
nditiz1
flyer86d - from VT!
LowBridge and son - from MA
bahnzai
billsimmeth
Phill W.
Movin6
BERNBRO02 - Ordered 1/R slider and bearings
Cuddyk

Doubt I'll be able to come down and hang out, but I'll let you know if the wife wants to get me out of the house for a day

Updated first post. Looks like a solid 8 (+1 for son). Getting close.

i have to bow out of this really hate to do that this late kn the game , i have to do a clutch on my d.d.(boxster). ugh! and a throttle body on my daufhters 528i - sucks,
sorry but both of these came up in the last week.

Dr. Phil

If anybody has a hotel recommendation I'd appreciate it.

Sorry you're not going to make. It was good meeting you and your car at Okteenerfest. (I was the bald guy in the Miata).

A 3 day window is really great. It can be a bit hectic trying to get all of the boxes done in one day.

Well a Shelon location is better than what Kevin offered!
I can help by housing Dr. Evil, don't have a shop place other than Shelton. So who's offering a spot in the Seattle area?

Hardware packages for the students.

I'd like the second from the top right side please.. we have a good feeling about that shine bowl of parts