bumble Posted 4December, 2015 Report Share Posted 4December, 2015 A few weeks ago, my previously good shifting 915 box turned into a bowl of porridge stirred by a wooden spoon. If you were lucky enough to actually fish out a gear, it was probably one you didn't want!The shift rod is connected to the gearbox selector shaft by a shift coupler (sometimes referred to as a 'knuckle') located in the tunnel behind the front seats. The shift coupler has two nylon bushes which in my case had completely disintegrated into a million tiny bits.Pelican sells a complete shift bushing kit for a few bucks. The shift coupler bushes are the black ones on the right.To replace them requires a hydraulic press and some care that you don't wreck the coupler in the process. In fact, Wayne Dempsey advises just replacing the whole coupler. Gazing into my crystal ball, I could see a vague image of me holding a wrecked shift coupler and having an undriveable car for another month! Insurance was called for...Stomski Racing manufactures a replacement (shown at bottom) coupler for USD $198 with a sealed universal which will last long after I have gone to meet the chior invisible. Wevo also do something similar. I replaced both the shift rod bush and the ball-cap (the two white ones) as well as the new coupler. As it turns out, my bushes were actually in good condition and really didn't require replacing, but at least I now have a great shifting 915 again!LESSONS:1. If your shift is iffy, check the coupler for play and tightness 1st before assuming the other bushes are knackered. ANY play there will have a detrimental effect on shift accuracy, much more so than the other bushes.2. Replacing the shifter bushes in a car with carpet will require removal of the front seats and carefully lifting the carpet away from the shifter base to expose the 5 hex screws that secure it. The carpet is glued and can be easily damaged, so it's a tricky operation. In my case, I'm related to mules, so didn't remove the seats...3. The coupler splines are very fine and a single notch makes a huge difference. It pays to spend some time experimenting with getting it exactly right. One notch either side of optimum will still work, but you'll know when you've got it exactly right!4. I have a Rennshift in my 914. It's a well made piece of kit and worthwhile considering if your shifter mechanism is knackered. If your shifter is good, I don't think it's a big enough improvement for the price IMHO, especially for a road car.Also, IMHO, 915s have an undeserved reputation for poor shifting, probably from people who have never driven a good one! A well set up example is a joy to use.Hope this is of some use...Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteamWolf Posted 6December, 2015 Report Share Posted 6December, 2015 I fitted the WeVo coupling to mine, as well as all the shift rod and shifter bushes. Made a world of difference! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harvs11 Posted 7December, 2015 Report Share Posted 7December, 2015 A hydraulic press etc is not really needed. The coupler bushes can be done with basic tools, a bench vice and some care. http://porscheforum.com.au/topic/5368-shifter-coupler-refurb/#comment-91732 I totally agree that 915's have an undeserved reputation. Properly maintained, they work just fine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bumble Posted 8December, 2015 Author Report Share Posted 8December, 2015 Thanks Harv - I had seen your post. Oddly, both my bushes were gone - just completely ground up sandy bits left in the bottom of the rubber boot! I intend to try your technique to rebuild my original to be kept as a spare. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
9er Posted 13February, 2016 Report Share Posted 13February, 2016 Good advice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stew F Posted 14February, 2016 Report Share Posted 14February, 2016 A hydraulic press etc is not really needed. The coupler bushes can be done with basic tools, a bench vice and some care. http://porscheforum.com.au/topic/5368-shifter-coupler-refurb/#comment-91732 I totally agree that 915's have an undeserved reputation. Properly maintained, they work just fine.In my spare time I've been designing a small hand tool for doing this job in minutes from through the hatch without removing the coupler halves from the car. I.e. removes the pin regardless of whether the bushes are in or not, sets the new bushes, and re-inserts the pin. I figure the in situ repair while speeding up the process, and making it easiee, will also eliminate re-adjustment time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveT Posted 14February, 2016 Report Share Posted 14February, 2016 You definitely don't need a press, I did mine with a few correctly sized sockets for support, a pin punch and a hammer all on the garage floor, I don't even have a workbench much less a vice to hold stuff. A few minutes to replace the bushes and a half hour to adjust the shift linkage and back to normal shifting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bumble Posted 15February, 2016 Author Report Share Posted 15February, 2016 Agreed. I did mine also fairly easily. So don't believe everything that bloody Dempsy writes...But I can now imagine I have a vastly superior shift than I otherwise would have. And all for only US$200! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MFX Posted 15February, 2016 Report Share Posted 15February, 2016 Agreed. I did mine also fairly easily. So don't believe everything that bloody Dempsy writes...But I can now imagine I have a vastly superior shift than I otherwise would have. And all for only US$200!So is that around AU$2,000.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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