I finally got around to putting in a short shift kit in the 944. I was hoping that it would help clean up the sloppy shifter that I have. While it certainly has shortened the shift, which I really like, it didn't clean up the shifter. For example, if I'm in 1st or 3rd gear, I can move the shifter way over to the right with no resistance, while if I try to move it to the left it feels like there's a little bit of a spring pushing back. From what I learned putting in the short shift kit, I'm not sure if I can clean that up at the shifter itself.

Anyway, I thought I'd give a report on this since there was at least one other person looking at putting in a short shift kit. By the way, the whole thing took a couple of hours and was pretty easy to do. I put in a Schnell kit, and the instructions were very good.

-ronc

 

Your shifter lever pin has worn and needs to be replaced. The shifter is about $40.

 

You keep telling me that, Doc, and I just have to keep trying everything else

I'll go and get a replacement today from the dealer and post back here with the results.

 

That will make it better. The shift rod that the pin goes through can also wear, but not as much as the shifter will. If you want it 100% like new you will need to replace, or modifiy that shift rod as well. Most guys drill it out, and insert a 7/16" piece of brass tubing to act as a new sleeve, which is about the size of the shifter pin.

 

You were right on - the new shift lever took out most of the slop. There's still some left, so I'll get around to looking at sleeving that rod with brass as you suggest. I'm leaving in the short shift kit, though, because I like that a lot better than it was...

 

Yea the short shift kits are nice. Which brand did you end up putting in?