TRtrans linkage problem

After the major, I re-connected the shifter rod to the U-shaped engine trans rod.

While cranking the engine, with clutch in (remember, I doubt the clutch is working), I got the following results, as I placed the shifter in the various gear positions, and observed any car movement:

neutral = no movement

1st gear = no movement

2nd gear = car moves BACKWARD!!!!!

3rd gear = no movement

4th, 5th and reverse gears = Unable to engage these gears.

Can the U-shaped engine shifter rod be turned 180 degrees?

Thanks

Henry,

yes the mechanism in the trans can rotate out of position causing serious anomolies.

Disconnect the front shaft and carefully reposition the trans shift shaft in relation to the internal shift fingers.

I use 2nd gear as my home base in cases like this. I insure the trans is in 2nd, then align the shaft and gate to match, then fine tune from there.

Thanks,

How do I get at the internal shift fingers?

I had a problem similar on my 308. I wanted to adjust my shifter. I turned the adjuster and go my shifter right where I wanted it. I then tightened everything back up and I had no gears. It would just go right into every gear but it wouldn't actually engage a gear. I used 2nd gear also and the turned my shaft coming from the interior to the right so it would catch on the transmission. At the time I thought I had broken or seriously damaged my transmission even though I only adjusted the rod length.

Rich,

Do you mean that you turned the engine end, shaft 180 degrees, while keeping the shifter end in 2nd gear?

Hank,

Awhile back, I wrote a tech post somewhere about just this problem...and how to solve it. A picture is worth a thousand words, so...here's what the transaxle shift forks, and shifter shaft should look like when the car is in neutral. If the shifter rod is disconnected from the car, you can move with your hand and feel as the selector engages the various forks...and hence find the neutral position. Likely from your description, the selector is not centered within the three transaxle shift forks, but rather just catching the outter (or inner) shift fork. By design, once on the the shift forks moves (i.e. you're in any gear)....the other forks are locked (even if you tried to move one).



Regards,
David

David,

How does one get at this. Remember, my engine is back in the car, with all fluids added.

Is you picture upside down?

Henry,

you must do this by feel. disconnect the front shaft, and with your hands on the trans shaft you must rotate it up and down until you can feel the 3 inner fingers, once you are sure you have found the center finger, push or pull the selector into gear (2nd or 3rd) then carefully reinstall and adjust the shift rod to the corresponding position in the gate. Some fine tuning will be neccesary. Lightly tighten the jam nuts on the rod as you fine tune position & lenght. Once the handle is once again centered in the gate and all 6 gears are working carefully tighten.

I went through this in my Boxer as well when my shift linkage came loose. Here's my 2 cents.

If engaging 2nd gear on the shifter puts it in reverse, it may be that the shift rod is rotated too far clockwise (sitting in the driver's seat facing forward) by 10 or 15 degrees. You want to undo the linkage, rotate the shifter trans shaft counter clockwise and see if you can engage the correct gear. Then it takes a little time to get the back-and-forth adjustment right to get the shifter centered such that it functions properly with the metal shift gate.

The adjustment is very touchy.

I removed the shifter rod, while keeping it in 2nd gear.........reverse, in the trans. The following is looking at the engine trans rod, from the front of the car.

While in reverse, the rod was in the 1 o'clock position. I moved the rod forward, away from the engine, and found neutral. Then, I rotated the engine rod, and felt "4" detents, as I gently pushed toward the engine....1, 12:30, 11:30 and 11:00 o'clock. I was only expecting 3.....one for reverse, one for 2nd, and one for 4th.

I was able to push in the 1st detente (reverse), and the last, at 11:00 o'clock.........I am assuming 4th gear.

The clutch is engaged, so I wasn't able to push in the middle two.

Does this make sense?