ParkerC

Hey guys,

My 88' doesn't want to go into first when down shifting (without some muscle) when the car is still moving. After the car has stopped though first is no problem at all...

I've tried double clutching/matching the revs to no avail. I was hoping it wasn't worn synchros, but after searching I think it might be ?

Any chance some adjustments somewhere can be made to remedy this?

Thanks
Parker.

928ntslow

Wow..not sure if I ever needed to down-shift to first except at a near stop. Don't know what you're doing, but it has been said many times, brakes are cheaper than transmissions

Anyway, let's start with the easy stuff. What are you using for tranny oil? Additionally, at the other end of the TT, have you checked for noises in the bell housing? What does the clutch feel like when depressed? Is your shifter sloppy?

These are three different locations to start with for the process of elimination. No real external adjustments can be made to cure your issue. You have to narrow it down to ball cup, throw out bearing and tranny lube. If they all check out, then it's on to the inerds of the tranny.

Shark Attack

bleed the clutch, change the fluid. This is where I would start. easy and cheap and you may just get lucky

Mike Frye

If it were trouble with all gears I'd agree with you guys. I'm afraid I agree with Parker, my money is on the tranny.

a4sfed928

If it doesn't clash or gring if forced into first gear then the trans should be okay in my opinion. I would look for the reason the syncro is having to work so hard to match the shaft speeds.

ParkerC

[QUOTE=928ntslow]Wow..not sure if I ever needed to down-shift to first except at a near stop. Don't know what you're doing, but it has been said many times, brakes are cheaper than transmissions

I hear ya...RMB will make you do nutty things

To your other questions;

YES....YES....YES

My TO/ release bearing makes noise at times, and I do have alot of front/back slop in the shifter, and my clutch pedal is pretty far out when it engages I switched to Redline fluid last year though, really smoothed things out esp in cold weather. Also clutch was bled about the same time when slave/ MC were replaced.

As a matter of fact my car is going in the shop this week for clutch replacement, MM/OPG. I just wanted to know what to expect, and get some down to earth opinions from you fellas first...

The fow ball cup was already on my list to have chkd out, I just didn't occur to me this could be part of my prob. The TO bearing is getting replaced w/ the clutch so maybe I'll be alright after all.

Thanks guys for the info!!!!

Parker

ParkerC

Dam NJ

I was going to sleep good tonight till you butted in!!!

FlyingDog

As long as it goes into first fine at a stop, who cares? Stop downshifting into first!

If that isn't good enough for you, I'll trade my barely functional 5th gear synchro tranny for your half working 1st gear tranny.

jon928se

If it just needs more muscle than seems appropriate, but doesn't crunch (ie synchros are OK) change the gearbox oil to a semi or fully synthetic 75W90 GL5 lube.

My 88exhibited similar symptoms when run with Swepco - now fine with Valvoline Synth.

hacker-pschorr

Did it just start doing this?

I have to be very gentle when shifting into 1st if the car is moving on my 81.

ParkerC

I swapped out the gear lube to Redline 75/90 last year. During the cold season it was about 10X worse, even when the car was warm. After swapping the 20y old fluid out I can say it got ALOT better, but didn't cure it.

Hacker,

Its been doing it since I've owned it...but you guys are right I don't down shift to first that often, but when I do I was hoping to make it a little easier.


Off to work
Thanks
Parker.

ParkerC

You can have my 5th, the only time I use it is when I'm breaking the speed limit by go to jail now/lose your licence kind of speed

ew928

My 88 does the same thing.
Redline 90W oil in box.
In slow traffic that'll lug 2nd gear, it's a BEAR to get it into first.
No grind. No clash. Just real real tight.

But it's been a few years since the Redline oil's been in the box.

ParkerC.
Wally lost his 5th syncro and wouldn't mind having yours.

Mike Frye

Front/back slop in the shifter is the forward shift ball cup. Side-side slop is the rear shift coupling (bushings can be replaced). I've done the front and it helped a lot. I still need to do the bushings in the rear coupling in mine.

If you're having the clutch and TO bearing done, I would suggest getting the forward shift ball cup done at the same time and probably the rear coupling wouldn't hurt.

ceedee

there is a potection, that prevents you to shift in first gear over a certain speed