901 shifting issue or 'just' Swepco!?

[BartdeBruijn]

Hi,

My 901 '69 5-speed gear box was working and shifting fine (like butter)!
Only issue was that from 1th to 2nd (dog leg) needed some care and time. Was not touching reverse though.

I heard a lot of good stories about Swepco and wanted to change oil anyway so replaced old oil with Swepco.
(no metal what so ever on the plug magnet )

Now with the new Swepco I run into best described as sticky gearshifts. Meaning when shifting it now klicks out of the gear.
Almost as it is spring loaded. It is as if there is more force needed to get it from 2nd to 3rd and from 4th to 5th...
It seems also that not only shifting out of gear generates a click but also going into the new gear (engaging the synchro) needs a bit more 'force'.
Clutch adjustment is fine as I can go in reverse without noise and shift to first while rolling, don't do it but possible without problem.

Only thing that I worked on after switching to Swepco was adjusting the shift rod at the universal joint connection. But again it goes into reverse and first gear without a problem.

I planned to change to Kendall as Peter Zimmerman and others suggest.
Can Swepco make friction go up so that both out of gear and into new gear takes more effort?

I hope anyone had the same experience and found a solution!?

Thanks,
Bart

[Mark Henry]

I quit using Swepco gear oil 10+ years ago, same experience, it didn't shift smoothly. I use Kendall dino lube in the air cooled boxes but I've also used the semi-synthetic and it seemed OK.

Honestly in the 914's I often use the cheaper FLAPS gear oil.

[BartdeBruijn]

Thanks MarK,

I should not have changed 2 parameters (adjustment + gear oild brand) at the same time....
There no theet crunching what so ever but just if the out of gear shifting is a bit spring loaded.... it really 'clicks'.
I Will start with redoing adjustment see if any improvement is there.
Second is gear oil and save the Swepco (only 200 kilometers on it)

[Mark Henry]

For years I'd put enough swepco gear lube in to colour the gear oil, about half a quart, made it easy to see if I was leaking oil or gear lube. Then I ran out of the swepco.

But I swear by Swepco 101 moly grease, only grease I need for bearings and CV's, I buy a case every year.

[gsxrken]

I’ve gone back and forth between those two products for almost 20 years now and they do have a different feel between them, particularly in cold weather.
But nothing to the degree that you’re reporting. If you even breathe on the adjustment coupler you’re in for a few days of leaving the cover off and having the Allen and box end wrench on the rear floor to keep trying for perfection.
BTDT

[BartdeBruijn]

Hi,

History
First update on 901 shifting problem after changing two parameters at the same time….(stupid/not handy I know)
1) As explained it felt as if I shifted from 2nd to 3rd and from 4th to 5th the lever clicks almost jumps out of gear when shifting as if spring loaded. All the other gears were fine. Only other point was that shifting in 2nd and 4th was bit sturdy.
2) I changed from don’t remember gear oil to Swepco201
Before these changes all worked smooth without any issues, only 1st to second did not touch reverse but was never that smooth.

Today
Found time to change Swepco for Kendall NS-MP Hypoid. Also adjusted gear shifter through linkage.
Shift lever to the right 4-5 plane and shift linkage to the far left (centered between front and rear “play” in shift shaft(going into gear box). Than bolt it tight again and go for a spin. There was less sturdy shifting for sure, however this spring loaded feel/clicking was still present. After readjusting and making small changes in rotational position (between shift rod (connected to shift lever) and ax (going into gear box, The 2nd to 3rd is smooth as butter and also the 4th to 5th is already better.

Could it be that the internal shift fork shafts could be rotational (or in a different way) loaded by mis-aligning linkage…..? In other words that taking it out of fourth gear will release this elastic energy?

Will be continued!
regards,
Bart