Porsche Enthusiasts Club Forum

I have just lost all drive on my 944 cab, fortunately just coming down the road so i managed to coast to my drive, luck id just come 50 miles down the M1, i had a new clutch fitted a few thousand miles ago, fitted a second hand gearbox a few weeks ago.
Just jacked the car up and pulled the inspection rubbers of the front of the box, the shaft does not spin when the engines running, whether in gear or not, no noises from the new box, gear linkages all new and fine, seems to select gears fine.
Now i have to buy a cheap car as im self employed and the cab is my only working car.
the clutch pedal feels fine with no odd noises coming from anywhere.
should i order a clutch or could it be something else!!

- the shaft not spinning whether in gear or not - are you saying the drive shaft? If that is the case, the drive shaft is no longer connected between the clutch and the gearbox...

Dave
CT

Hi, can only think that the torque tube shaft has sheared-rare but posible.
Perhaps the torque tube tube to gearbox coupling has come loose or has broken-did you also remove the inspection rubber from the torque tube to see if the shaft is spinning there and check the condition of the coupling?
or it could well be the clutch but that seems unlikely as its been recently changed.

That's correct, but it is spinning a little but I can put a screw driver in and turn it the other way, I have disconnected the joining shaft that connects the box to the drive shaft.
I wasn't thrashing it just normal driving, changed up to second after turning into my road, thought I hadn't selected gear properly, then found I had none.
Is clutch more likely, never heard of a drive shaft snapping.
Especially as no clonking noises. Clutch changed less than 5k miles ago tho by promax

I guess the box and torque tube are coming of this weekend, great.
Never taken the tube of before, changed the box, any tips.
Thanks

You may want to look first at the gear selector linkage at the gear box end. If not tightened properly (you mentioned that the gearbox being replaced) the linkage shaft will not engage, even when you think it is by shifting the gear stick itself. There are a few bolts to check that the linkage is secure...

Dave
CT

Thanks Dave, that's the first thing I checked as I fitted a short shift kit but made my own cross brace.
Checked the gears are all engaging, all seems ok there, prop shaft not turning when engine running, clutch feels fine.
I will take it apart this weekend and find out.
Cheers

Before you dismantle - I would check the warranty on that gearbox. The selectors may be 'buggered' and you could have recourse for a refund...

Dave

Shouldn't the propshaft spin when the engine is spinning?
If the shafts not spinning isn't the problem before the gearbox, further up front..

I'm thinking there is no drive beyond the the flywheel/ clutch assy here and I wonder if the clamp (items 5 & 6 in the first photo) has worked loose off the splines.....





Hope this helps....

Thanks, that looks and sounds logical to me, I need to get oily, and skinned knuckles next, I will let you know what I find
Cheers

The propshaft only engages when in gear.

Forgive me for sounding silly but does the input shaft of the gearbox move?

I cannot see how the propshaft part can even disengage on a 944, seeing as it spins even when the car is in netraul at engine speed, hence the 'rattle' some people get in neutral? I thought the torque tube was merely an extension piece to mate the gearbox and engine together as one.

Anyway, I'd say the clamp missing sounds plausible Stu. Did you provide the clutch or did ProMax?

Not on a 944. All the time the engine is running & the clutch is engaged the prop will turn.

Well thats it then, propshaft dosn't spin at all. im off work today to buy another car, but i will start the strip down saturday.
So lucky it happened locally, and iv only just put a new gearbox on, the joy of classic car ownership!