Factory short shift hits side wall going into reverse. Help please!?
 

2001 boxster S 100k kms.

Factory short shift rubs against inside wall when shifting into reverse. Cable alignment doesn't solve problem. Help please!

I always noticed reverse was pretty terrible to get into, really had to force it across. 1-2 were pretty hard too.

I took out the console centre console to align the cables.

I looked inside the housing while shifting and saw that to get into reverse the black RHS (right hand side) cable ball joint runs against the inside of the shifter housing.

The Porsche alignment tool didn't fit the shifter, so l used geometric center as a reference point - took off one cable at a time and marked the travel extremes, measured this, then reattached in the middle. Both for blue, side to side, and black forward and back. I also found neutral between 3-4 and marked that.

Neither position got rid of the rubbing with reverse shift.They made1- 2 better though.

I noted that in these centred positions the lever looked centred, but the shift cable barrels with groves that pop in and out of the shift arm were pretty much on their last/ lowest grove (closest to seats).

I am 99.9% sure it is the factory short shift kit for 997/996 installed by previous owner in 2005 by Porsche. Looks purple in these pictures. In the pelican parts guide the factory kit looks black but on one of the pictures you can see the purple tint and the /P in a triangle logo /p. Also a few FB group members confirmed it looked like theirs. I it is equivalent to the B&W short shift too.

Still running original shift cables and they are attached to the trans. couldn’t find part numbers to check if they are the 5 speed instead of the 6 speed.

Attachment at the gear boy looks fine.

The only thing I can think of is the cables are too short or routed incorrectly. Or maybe the shifter was set up wrong/too high?

Looking to get numeric cables, but would like to save the shifter. Otherwise will just go for full numeric set up.

Anyone have ideas?

https://share.icloud.com/photos/093rzJB3seuExK19yQyA-K85g

You have a problem with the linkage at the back of the transmission, it might be bent or otherwise out of spec. The linkage is external to the transmission, and there are some DIY guides on making an adjustable replacement with affordable parts, and I believe Tarrett makes one as well. I made the DIY one myself, and it was fairly easy, as well as improving the shift action by deleting two soft rubber bushings.

If this is a stock shifter, how can the stock alignment tool not fit?

Well... depends on which alignment tool and which shifter is installed.

In my experiences on a 986 where I installed a factory SSK - all went smooth as butter with zero need for any alignment tool (do not recall one even being available but who knows).

Then I installed an OEM SSK in my 9x7 and utilized the included green alignment jig. All worked first shot - super smooth but much shorter shifting though.

Since factory std 9x7 shifters are similar to 9x6 SSK I gave my old 997 shifter to a 986 friend and helped install (he's mechanically neitherdexterous so to speak). First utilized alignment tool which assisted us to 55-65%. Then had to discard jig and manually tweak by trial and error. Not too bad just patience w small adjustments and testing each gear before locking retainers down and road testing.

To OP... (first and foremost ensure the shift tower "appendix" aka green plate at bottom on right side is removed).
on a 9x6 'S' where 1, 2, and R have similar 'sticky-ness', my recollection is your left cable (blue connector/collar) needs adjusted as they are impacted by same lateral shifter movement (not for/aft since no issues reported 3/4 or 5/6). And since 1 & 2 are better, seems like you're close. Suspect adjusting left cable a couple threads (50/50 shot but instinct says cable move 'out' a few threads) will get 1/2 perfect and bring R aligned too. If you adjust and 5/6 get worse w no 1/2 improvement then you adjusted wrong direction - LOL. Reset/undo adjustment and then repeat but in opposite direction.

Good luck :)