ryu_s2k3

Hello All, I'm a newbie to this board and was recommended by BrendanC. Thanks Brendan!

I have a problem i'm hoping someone might have a solution to.

Problem Description:
Step1: Depress the Clutch > Shift to 1st > *engages*
Step2: Depress the Clutch > release shifter from 1st > shift to 2nd > shifter moves but feels "disconnected" > internal gears still stuck in first.

This will happen in all gears not only the 1>2 shift

This happens almost 75% of the time resulting in a car that's not practically driveable. It seems like a linkage is only catching some of the time. I will need to move the stick back and forth within about a 1" play before it will recatch and grab the internal gear and release it from first. then it will allow me to shift into second. It's another roll of the dice if it will release from 2nd at this point. Nothing seems broken, no unusual noises but something definitely seems unlatched or disengaged.

Perhaps someone has come across this issue? Thanks for your time. It is much appreciated.

Jim bailey - 928 International

pull up the shift boot and frame so you can look at the TWO shift rods one goes forward the other rearward to the transmission. Move the shift lever and ONLY the rear rod should be moving the forward rod has a cup which snaps on to a ball.....that can pop off and be disengaged.

ryu_s2k3

Thank you Jim for the quick reply. I will look there this weekend. Question - If it sometimes disengages or re-engages is that a worn part? Something that can be replaced? Since it's not always disengaged i imagine nothing is broken but instead worn. Hoping I can replace that part with a new one. If it's a cup/ball that 'snaps' i'm just worried it will keep on snapping off like a loose steering knuckle. However, from your description it seems like if it snaps off it will always be off. Perhaps i'm wrong.

I will check soon. Thank you.

Jim bailey - 928 International

The forward rod is quite close to the underside of the tunnel near the ball and sometimes it will wedge aginst the ball allowing you to find a gear the plastic liner for that socket breaks and falls apart allowing the socket to come off the ball.

Lizard928

it is a worn ball cup that is causing this, you can use a long hose clamp 5" iirc to hold it onto the ball and prevent it from falling off as a temp fix until the replacement cup comes in.

Peter F

Yes it is replacable.
What you need is this part:

Can be a little tight to get at but it can be done.

/Peter

ryu_s2k3

you guys rock. i wish i could buy you each a beer. i do hope this is the problem and with your replies i'm confident it will be. will report back once I find out. Thanks!

Peter F

Jim is right on in his diagnose, that old one on the picture is from my -81.
Changed on my 90 as well when the torque tube was down for renovation, the cup was almost as bad.
Check here for some more advice on how to get it done:
Shifter Cup Failure

Cheers/Peter

jyoon

swapping that cup is a pita. someone suggested using a ratchet strap to pull the cup over the ball. at first i thought what a wimp, you can just use your hands and pull the cup over the ball. well i was wrong.

BC

Told you RYU. These guys are the greatest. Thats why I will always have to keep at least one 928 around so I can be accepted in this group.

I started talking about 928s on the S2000 board www.s2ki.com and RYU mentioned his 928.

jim morehouse

Ryu,
The people who have already responded are more knowledgable on this but I had a problem w the shifter on my '88 that turned out to be the shift rod 'coupler'. The symptoms I had were:

often the shift lever would have excessive 'play' from side to side.
I had to search to find a gear..moving the lever around, usually more side to side than front to back

Mine turned out to be a loose nut/bolt that holds the shift rod coupler on the shift rod. Easy to check this. Jack the car up and you'll see a rubber boot over the shift rod near the transmission. Slide the rubber boot toward the rear, exposing the shift coupler. The boot fits over a lip toward the front of the car and you need to push it off the lip to slide it back...pretty easy. Have someone get in the car and move the shift lever through the gears and side to side. You should see the same amount of movement in the shift rod as in the coupler assembly....mine the coupler hardly moved. I was lucky and just had to tighten the nut/bolt on the forward end of the coupler. I had a hard time getting the boot back over the lip....might want to lube it up if you do this.

I hope your problem is this simple.

Jim

edco

Hey Ryu,

Welcome

I had the same problem with my 88

I followed Kurt Gibble "Changing the ball cup guide " Click Here

Also for what it's worth a link to my thread of when I changed mine... Click Here

Welcome and keep us posted

ryu_s2k3

you guys rock. just wanted to say that before i began what could be a pita fix

Brendan, you were right. makes me want to drive the 928 more just so that more stuff could go wrong. ok.. i was kidding.

I think with all the info and guidance already posted on this thread i'm almost sure it's the shifter cup (pending it's not the same problem Jim had)