convertable top transmission - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

broken2bfree · 07-17-2013, 05:46 PM

Recently the gear broke in the right side convertible top transmission. Anyone that has had this happen knows what a pain it is to remove the transmission when the top is stuck in closed position. The worst part is the price to fix it.
Basically you have two choices.
1. purchase a new transmission nearly $700
2. roll the dice on ebay for a used transmission at $250
I spoke with a fella in NJ that specializes in making gears of any kind. I sent him my transmission so that he could examine the gear and give me a quote. He claims he can make this gear no problem.
His analysis of the gear is that it is an injection molded gear with a shelf life. It will fail with age regardless the use. We bounced ideas around for a bit today on material used to reproduce the gear. He is reproducing my gear with superior self lubricating plastic and assures me that the gear will never fail again, provided the mechanism does not bind. The plastic gear serves as a point of failure in the system. He will be selling these gears on ebay after he makes mine for a yet to be determined price. It should be under the $250 it would cost to buy a used transmission from ebay (basically 250 for a used plastic gear).
I will be glad to post a link for all interested once I verify the gear works well.

armandodiaz · 08-18-2013, 01:20 PM

Mine right side just broke also. So I would be interested.

Raider · 08-18-2013, 05:46 PM

Wonder if I have the same problem. My top goes up and down, but makes a clunking noise as the motor runs. the noise cycles about a second apart when runs. the top light stays on now too.
I had the top replaced about 5 weeks ago and have only put down 3 times since. Now the noise. Is this transmission or something else?

Cloudsurfer · 08-18-2013, 10:32 PM

I have a set of left and right gearboxes laying around from a very low mileage car, if anyone needs them....

armandodiaz · 08-19-2013, 01:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cloudsurfer

I have a set of left and right gearboxes laying around from a very low mileage car, if anyone needs them....

Let me know how much?

Cloudsurfer · 08-19-2013, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by armandodiaz

Let me know how much?

PM has been sent.

kirk911tt · 08-31-2013, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by broken2bfree

Recently the gear broke in the right side convertible top transmission. Anyone that has had this happen knows what a pain it is to remove the transmission when the top is stuck in closed position. The worst part is the price to fix it.
Basically you have two choices.
1. purchase a new transmission nearly $700
2. roll the dice on ebay for a used transmission at $250
I spoke with a fella in NJ that specializes in making gears of any kind. I sent him my transmission so that he could examine the gear and give me a quote. He claims he can make this gear no problem.
His analysis of the gear is that it is an injection molded gear with a shelf life. It will fail with age regardless the use. We bounced ideas around for a bit today on material used to reproduce the gear. He is reproducing my gear with superior self lubricating plastic and assures me that the gear will never fail again, provided the mechanism does not bind. The plastic gear serves as a point of failure in the system. He will be selling these gears on ebay after he makes mine for a yet to be determined price. It should be under the $250 it would cost to buy a used transmission from ebay (basically 250 for a used plastic gear).
I will be glad to post a link for all interested once I verify the gear works well.

I'm interested too : don't want to buy a used part that will fail again PM me with price if you have it.

armandodiaz · 08-31-2013, 01:40 PM

I agree, since the other side is also showing signs of cracking, I'm sure it's only a matter of time before it fails. I'm sure it will be the same for any used parts.

Crono0001 · 09-03-2013, 01:17 PM

Very interested as my convertible top stopped working recently. Attached are some photos of what I think is a bent rail.

The top stopped closing halfway through and I had to use my hand to close it the rest. The motor spools, but dies shortly after.

Any ideas?

Crono0001 · 09-06-2013, 08:25 PM

New Porsche Boxster 986 Convertible Top Transmission Gear Replace It with Metal | eBay

Is this from your guy?

armandodiaz · 09-07-2013, 01:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crono0001

New Porsche Boxster 986 Convertible Top Transmission Gear Replace It with Metal | eBay

Is this from your guy?

Price is a little high. For the same amount you can pickup a used 987 transmission. I understand the changed the gears to brass. If you try to buy a new transmission, you will get the new 987 trans.

Maybe you can get a deal buying 2?

Crono0001 · 09-07-2013, 05:43 AM

If I get these metal gears, will I still need a new transmission? Or will this essentially 'fix' my broken transmission

Crono0001 · 09-06-2013, 09:26 PM

I talked to my mechanic, and he's 90% sure it's my top transmissions. Assuming he is correct and they are broken, do I purchase a whole new transmission or can I just purchase this steel gear (which is usually the cause of failure)

Crono0001 · 09-08-2013, 12:28 PM

Anyone?
I'm about to make a purchase on transmissions and I'd like to know if I actually need them.

kirk911tt · 09-08-2013, 02:47 PM

The gear is usually the problem, but the guy on ebay only has the gear for the right side so you could only fix the transmission with the white gear (right side). He wants another 250 to make the black gear on the left. If they were 125 then it makes sense but otherwhise just buy a matching set of 987 transmissions and youre set.

Cloudsurfer · 09-08-2013, 03:38 PM

I looked again at the set that I have, which came from an 05 987, and the left transmission has a 987 part, while the right one is a 986 part. Go figure.

Either way, I have these available to whoever needs them.

meemo · 08-13-2014, 08:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cloudsurfer

I looked again at the set that I have, which came from an 05 987, and the left transmission has a 987 part, while the right one is a 986 part. Go figure.

Either way, I have these available to whoever needs them.

So the parts you ve ordered worked well?

Crono0001 · 09-08-2013, 04:16 PM

So the 987 transmissions have brass gears which are deemed to not fail?

I wonder if I could buy the 987 brass gear instead of buying a whole new transmission, and just repair my current transmission, and whether or not it'd be cheaper.
Alternatively do what the OP did. Take my transmission out, have a gear shop replicate the gear, and then repair my old transmissions with new gears.

Crono0001 · 09-08-2013, 05:10 PM

I've done some more research. Even if I purchased pushrods, new transmission and motor with cables, it still doesn't address this problem that I can see:

Here is my PASSENGER side top rail frame thingy. As you can see, it's got a peg through the rail.

Here is my DRIVER side top rail frame thingy. As you can see, bent and not in place.

Any ideas??

Can someone show me a diagram how these work? All I ever see are the motor to transmissions to push rods, nothing above.