Have to fish to find 3rd gear.

[moazam]

The 3rd gear on my 1986 coupe requires some 'fishing' to get it right. I've noticed the following things:

1.) At 4000-4500 RPM, it's much easier to shift into 3rd gear. Below these RPM's, it can get very difficult to go from 2nd to 3rd.

2.) Downshifting from 4th to 3rd is very difficult.

3.) If I shift into 3rd as I would on any other car (i.e., not waiting 3-5 seconds to find the gear), I'll get punished and hear a grinding noise. At this point I have to try to shift into 3rd again.

4.) In certain RPM ranges when I shift into 3rd, it'll *kinda* get in there, but either pop right back out or I can feel that it's going to pop out if I leave it there.


Soooo....I'm thinking of changing out all of the shift bushings and putting in the Swepco 201 tomorrow. Do these symptoms sound like something that can be fixed with Swepco/Bushings, or does it sound like I need some more serious help?

[Joe Bob]

Do you have an aftermarket short shift kit? If so...that may be the culprit along with the bushings....

[moazam]

Nope, to my knowledge it's all stock.

[moazam]

Oh well, I'll do the shift bushings and shift coupler adjustment first to see if that helps.

How much approximate time should it take me to do these two things? I have the 101 book to guide me...

[Sonic dB]

Sounds like third gear synchro is going, though usually its the second gear that goes first on the 915.

Shifter adjustment "may" help, but its not likely. Do a search for the shifter adjustment thread...it could be that your shifter rod just needs to be rotated to the proper position...but more likely it is symptoms of a budding rebuild.

[moazam]

If I do indeed need to replace 3rd gear...is it worth it to replace the sliders/synchros for the other gears at the same time just so I don't have to open the tranny for that much longer?

[Sonic dB]

Maybe not, if they are in good shape....but "while you are in there" seems to be the smartest thing to do with a 915 as chances are there could be other synchros with significant wear going.

The odd thing is that second gear and then first are "traditionally" the first synchros in the 915 to go..however ever car/driver are different. Second gear in my car (also an 86) is starting to go and exhibits some of the same signs that you have with your third gear (but there is no grinding).

The grinding could be a symptom of the clutch not properly engaging, however that would affect all gears, not just third...so that rules it out.

It points to synchros, or if your lucky a shift rod adjustment. Perhaps some of the wrenches on the board could chime in with more.

[moazam]

Originally posted by Sonic dB
It points to synchros, or if your lucky a shift rod adjustment. Perhaps some of the wrenches on the board could chime in with more.

Well, the car will be at Bobs shop (RMG) in Sunnyvale tomorrow morning for a valve adjustment so I'll beg those guys to have a looksie.

I know the PO had the clutch helper spring replaced about 3,000 miles ago. The whole transmission was rebuilt back in 1997 at 142,000 miles. The car has 172,000 miles on it right now.

[Sonic dB]

The whole transmission was rebuilt back in 1997 at 142,000 miles. The car has 172,000 miles on it right now.

That is interesting....

[moazam]

Originally posted by Sonic dB
That is interesting....

Interesting in a good way or a bad way?

I've had the car for a bit less than 1,000 miles.

[Sonic dB]

The whole tranny was rebuilt in 97, or just first and second gear synchros?

[moazam]

All of the gears (sliders, synchros) were replaced back in 1997. The whole procedure cost about $1500-$1700 with parts and labor.

[moazam]

Unfortunately I received confirmation today that the 3rd gear syncro is indeed shot.

This means the transmission will have to be pulled out and worked on. I'll have the other gears looked at, and any clutch work done at the same time. I was hoping this was going to be a cheapo shift linkage issue, but it looks like its going to cost big bucks instead.

On a happier note, the valve adjustment went well and Bob@RMG said the car is in pretty good condition. It's almost all perfect except for the 3rd gear. I guess I'll have it worked on sometime early next year.

[SpeedracerIndy]

That seems strage that it is easier at higher rpms. I was going to suggest worn motor mounts (especially at that mileage), but since you already have confirmation...

[moazam]

Originally posted by CDiercks
That seems strage that it is easier at higher rpms. I was going to suggest worn motor mounts (especially at that mileage), but since you already have confirmation...

It is not really easier to shift at higher revs...only in a certain range of higher revs. At 5k-6k RPM range, it becomes very difficult again.

Has anyone else here done this kind of repair? What kind of price did it end up at (parts+labor)?

[masraum]

Sounds like you have a combination of things working against you, bushings, adjustment, engine/tranny mounts, and syncros. If you learn doubleclutching you can probably drive the thing quite some time with bad syncros.

Third gear problems are not unheard of because people are more likely to have a problem shifting from 2 to 3 if they are in a hurry or racing. The PO might have liked to run anyone who'ed rev their engine. Or maybe he just wasn't very good at driving a stick, or maybe the rebuild wasn't the best job.

[nostatic]

While you're waiting to have the work done, you can take the opportunity to learn how to double clutch.

[moazam]

Originally posted by masraum
Third gear problems are not unheard of because people are more likely to have a problem shifting from 2 to 3 if they are in a hurry or racing. The PO might have liked to run anyone who'ed rev their engine. Or maybe he just wasn't very good at driving a stick, or maybe the rebuild wasn't the best job.

The previous owners daughters used this car to learn how to drive stick shift. :/ This was *after* the transmission rebuild.

I'll probably have the rebuild done at the same shop that did the first rebuild.

[moazam]

Originally posted by nostatic
While you're waiting to have the work done, you can take the opportunity to learn how to double clutch.

Tried that, does not help. Either I'm double clutching wrong, or it won't help for this problem.

I've learned that blipping the throttle a bit helps shifting into 3rd when not in the right RPM ranges.

[Sonic dB]

moazam...sorry to hear about your diagnosis. Have you thought about doing the rebuild yourself? The 915 isnt all that hard if you follow the instructions of books like the Bentley manual. However, the hard part is dropping the engine and tranny from the car + having time and work space.....it would save you some $$ though.