Sentinelist

xschop

It looks like the pin is the same diameter its full length (Not barreled). When they become barreled, 1st and 2nd gear become hard to engage. Slop is more than likely at the rear shift linkage where the rubber/plastic is worn.

Van

When the rod is *not* on the shift lever's pin, it's supposed to swing back and forth like that. It's the tight clearance with the pin that prevents it from doing that.

For the price of a new shift lever, I'd start with that.

Sentinelist

That's what it seems like- I can't work out any slop with the lever. And when the intermediate is on the pin, it seems pretty straight without much if any play on the pin. I wish it had bushings like the 968 that could just be changed, but it doesn't feel like the problem in this case.

I got a pre-emptive tip from my mechanic to just replace the lever so I have a new spare on the workbench, but wanted to test the waters here before swapping it out anyway. How hard is it to get at the rear linkage? Clark's wasn't too clear, or I wasn't looking in the right spot (breezed over a search there last night).

JohnKoaWood

jack up the rear drivers side and you will see the linkage behind the transaxle bellhousing..

If you cant chase down the problem with the linkage, it is possible it is internal to the gearbox... put it in gear, jack up the rear, and work the linkage side to side from underneath to chase down the slop!

Sentinelist

Ok thanks- hoping it's not the gearbox! I saw another YouTube video of a guy doing just this. Will check later this week.