Friends,

I'm finishing up a water pump (and other work) on my 951 and am unclear about which way to install the mini thermostat. Does the body of the thermostat go into the water pump or into the right angle elbow? It fits either way and the exploded diagram in the parts catalog shows it going into the elbow, but I would think that it would go into the water pump.

Also, my 86 911 has a strange clutch drag problem. When cold, the clutch drags slightly, preventing me from engaging reverse. It doesn't drag so strongly that I can't start the car in gear, but it won't go into gear if I start in neutral and try to put in gear afterwards. This problem goes away once the car is fully warm. I'm thinking that it's the pilot shaft bearing, but would like an opinion from someone more knowledgable than I am before I start to remove the engine to replace it. Any thoughts?

Thanks!

Perry

 

Here's how the thermostat goes. Are you sure the clutch is dragging and it's not just a bad synchro? Does it shift smoothly into other gears? If it's dragging, then I'd check and double check the hydraulics, especially if heat makes it go away (since trapped air expands and transmits more of the hydraulic pressure). If not hydraulics, then I'd check the adjustment on the clutch rod in the footwell. If that all checks out, then you may have to dig in...

 

Thanks, Tom. That's exactly what I've been looking for. I have the exploded diagram, but not the instructions on which way to install the mini thermostat.

As for the clutch dragging, the 911 uses a cable to actuate the clutch so there's no hydraulics to consider. I'm still thinking that it is the pilot shaft bearing but am willing to look at other culprits.

Perry

 

The "clutch dragging" might be a stiff pilot bearing...

 

Oh sorry I missed the part about it being a 911. Had an 85 and it was a great car, but the clutch was my least favorite thing (followed by the a/c).