Notch 1st to 2nd shift
 

I had my transmission rebuild a couple years ago with a WEVO shifter installed. It seems to be notchy between first and second.

The car has new WEVO coupler, motor and transmission mounts.

I was wondering if the shifter needs readjustment. The mechanic at the shop told me to drive the car 500 miles to break in the transmission before installing the shifter.

I’ ve tried adjusting the shifter when I installed the WEVO coupler but, couldn’t get it right and had to have the shop adjust the shifter.

Wondering if I should take it back this time or what other issues the transmission might have?

1-2 can be notchy, especially if you’re shifting at too low of an rpm.

You need to learn to double clutch; I have to do this as my gearbox rebuild 20 odd years ago is showing its age. All part of its charm.

Roy

Yeah right. I also double clutch but it's not because of the charmy gearbox.

I have had the same problem after my transmission rebuild. Previous, the car shifted very easily. After the rebuild, it gets very stiff and difficult to shift from 1st to 2nd or third down to second. This is with or without double clutching. Has anybody had any luck with readjusting the shift linkage or would this be something with the transmission?

Quaint as it is, the 915 shifted beautifully everytime I drove it and when it doesn't, that's invariably due to user error. Most of the time, not always but most, the quest for the perfect shift is the source of fun less so the destination, not referring to the place but the gear. Of course, jack rabbit starts are prohibited, that's rule number one. I'll let someone else chime in on rule #2.

Time to get more practice.

Swepco doesn't help shifting, especially cold 1st to 2nd. Most folks see a difference with Kendall 80/90 GL-5.

My 1974 915 has about 25,000 miles since last refresh. At that time, the lower gear synchro cones were replaced. Upper gears have always shifted pretty well (for a 915), but I've always had difficulty with the 2 to 1 shift, especially if I already came to a stop. I had Swepco in it for the first 15,000 miles after refresh, but changed to Valvoline because I couldn't get the Swepco in the short time I needed it, so Valvoline for the last 10,000 miles. Valvoline shifts about the same as Swepco in my box, but I'll give the Kendall a try too.

Because of the 2-1 balkiness, I started double clutching the lower downshifts. I never had to do this with American iron from the 1950's onward.

I guess it's part of the "charm".

If you can ,make a video how you shift to see the problem.As Mat M.mentioned the rpm is important.
Also i do not know vevo coupler..but most of the times with 1-2 shifting is the adjustment of the coupler.
How many miles since the trans.was done ..info

Ivan

In the rare-ish case of needing to do 2-1 shift - like in stop and go traffic - just double clutch. Problem solved.

Are there any 915 transmission experts out there that can explain what actually causes the notch feeling?

Are there parts that hit each other or hitting a casing edge if the coupler alignment is not perfect?

Or is it only the syncros that dont mesh that causes the notch?

Just trying to understand the engineering side of what is going on in the transmission moving from 1 to 2.

i`m not the expert on transs.i just do them as best i can to my knowledge. But ,anytime you have transmission rebuild the shifting will be for a little while harder so peeps should take it easy...I also would not recommend shifting into first before you stop..No reason....a lot of 1st gears go kaput because of this.
Inside, it is mainly about the adjustment of the slider.It has to be precisely in the middle of the 1st and 2nd gears.If not there will be problem ....
All of this besides the quality work must be guaranteed by the rebuilder.
As i have mentioned the coupler adjustment is most of the time the big culprit.Otherwise 915 transmission are pretty easy to use...

Ivan

I experienced the same thing after a trans rebuild a few years back, difference being I retained OEM shifter and refreshed all the bushings.

A few minor adjustments of the coupler clocking on the shift shaft helped quite a bit, but end of the day I had to relearn where the transmission liked me to put the shift lever. Now, with my mind muscle connection, it shifts into 2nd like a bolt action rifle....most of the time. If it gives me any resistance, I double clutch and it goes in smoothly.

Also random hot tip for anyone. If you don't enjoy the reverse engagement crunch... put the shifter into 2nd quickly before reverse, then to reverse...no more crunch :)

Thanks it sounds like good advice. Another thing I’m going to do in the spring when I change my oil and bleed. The brakes is try Kendall.

Thinking about taking it in to the shop and have them do the adjustment on the shifter. I tried it once and couldn’t get it just right.I’m

Its difficult to adjust the Wevo shifter, very little room for error. I rebuilt my gearbox , new synchros , sliders, shift fork, bearings, etc. and it's still notchy.The shifter rests in the 3rd/4th gate position due to the centering springs left and right. The last Wevo adjustment I made I placed the gearbox in 3rd gear, loosened the coupler, rotated the coupler cw/ccw and found the center of play, carefully tightened it being careful not to move the coupler fwd or aft, and it works much better now. Scribe, or mark a line on the coupler splines for the fwd/aft position so you can replace it in the current position. When shifting from 1st to 2nd it's important to maintain constant pressure to the left on the shifter when moving it aft to shift into second. The factory shifter ( for the 915) is designed with play in the coupler and shifter linkage to allow for inaccurate shifts, unlike the aftermarket shifters and couplers available today.

Short shifters take a bit more effort and are also harder to adjust properly. I had a Wevo in my 72 for about a week and swapped it for a stock one. PITA.

Yes I do have a short shifter.

Just thinking that might be the biggest problem. The shop that did the transmission told me not to put it in until I broke the transmission in

well? did you??
Ivan