1st to 2nd Shifting Problem - A833

[cwestra]

When I shift at normal RPM's I have no problems shifting into any gear.  But when I really get on it off the line I cannot hit 2nd.  No matter what, it does not want to go in.  No grinding, just not going in.  I have to jump to 3rd from there and then I can go back down to 2nd.  Does this sound like a syncro or a linkage problem?

[Chryco Psycho]

I doubt it is in the linkage , there really is nothing ot bind, you are just pulling the lever over the other way so it sound like a problem in the syncro where the sliders are standing up too much with RPM & the hub will not slide over them

[cwestra]

I doubt it is in the linkage , there really is nothing ot bind, you are just pulling the lever over the other way so it sound like a problem in the syncro where the sliders are standing up too much with RPM & the hub will not slide over them

That's what I was afraid of.  I guess that means the trans has to come out again.  Oh, well.

Thanks, again, CP.

[Chryco Psycho]

I would double check with Brewers as well & make sure there is nothing binding in the linkage before pulling the tranny

[cwestra]

I would double check with Brewers as well & make sure there is nothing binding in the linkage before pulling the tranny

Thanks.  I'm fairly certain it is not in the linkage either.  I was underneath yesterday and had my son go through the gears.  Everything looked free linkage-wise on the outside.  I wonder if I can confirm anything by pulling the cover off and looking inside with the trans still installed?

[Moparal]

your sure your engine mount isnt flexing and putting everything in a bind? And say if you were going 6k in first, push in the clutch and let the rpms come down, then try to shift into 2nd, have you tried that? As the rpms come up the pressure plate fingers push out harder towards the throw out bearing. If the clutch is adjusted to tight it could cause a bind in high rpms.Also if the engine mount under hard acelleration is streching, it will bind up the equalizer bar and jam the throw out bearing fork hard onto the bearing causing a bind on the input shaft collar. Causing the throw out bearing not to slide on the collar. You ever see a trans with a worn collar?  I am just telling you things I have learned by personal experience. It may not apply to you.  Also those plastic pieces are in good shape?  If one fails it will , it will bind under accelleration

[cwestra]

your sure your engine mount isnt flexing and putting everything in a bind? And say if you were going 6k in first, push in the clutch and let the rpms come down, then try to shift into 2nd, have you tried that? As the rpms come up the pressure plate fingers push out harder towards the throw out bearing. If the clutch is adjusted to tight it could cause a bind in high rpms.Also if the engine mount under hard acelleration is streching, it will bind up the equalizer bar and jam the throw out bearing fork hard onto the bearing causing a bind on the input shaft collar. Causing the throw out bearing not to slide on the collar. You ever see a trans with a worn collar?  I am just telling you things I have learned by personal experience. It may not apply to you.  Also those plastic pieces are in good shape?  If one fails it will , it will bind under accelleration

Fairly certain the mount is tight but easy enough to check.  Only happens when shifting to 2nd.

I would say it happens as early as 3,500 or 4,000.  Hard off the line up to 4k, try to pull 2nd and shifter hits a wall.  If I let it back down sometimes it goes in but sometimes not.  It's almost like I have to wait several seconds before it will go back in.

How can I tell if my clutch is set too tight?

The bushings in the Z-bar are new and snug.

[Changin Gears]

If you can shift into reverse without grinding, while stopped, the clutch is disengaging.

[73Chally]

Sounds to me like the synchro going.  Have you had problems in the past with it popping out of second, or grinding going in?  We lost second gear in our Super Bee with it doing the same thing.  It finally got to the point where it would not go into 2nd at all.

[cwestra]

Sounds to me like the synchro going.  Have you had problems in the past with it popping out of second, or grinding going in?  We lost second gear in our Super Bee with it doing the same thing.  It finally got to the point where it would not go into 2nd at all.

Yes, it does pop out of 2nd once in a while.  It does not grind, though.  Trans was rebuilt before I put it back in.  Must be something going on with the syncro in there, though.  Thanks.

[cwestra]

Problem has been solved.

It turned out that the ball for the detent in the reverse lever was missing.  Only the spring was in there.  So there was nothing but residual friction keeping the lever forward.  When I shifted into second normally (not abrupt) I had no problem, but when I shifted to second hard something moved the reverse lever just slightly, preventing me from going into second.  It was probably the torque that jarred the lever through the linkage that moved it, which is normal, but without the detent to hold it in place it was free to move.  Anyway, I am glad it's fixed and that I did not have to remove the transmission to repair it.

Thought I'd pass it along in case anyone else had a similar problem.