Stuck in 5th

jhynesrockmtn · 05-17-2007, 11:18 AM

My tranny got stuck in 5th on Tuesday on the track at Pacific Raceways near Seattle. Coming into turn 2 at 100 + couldn't get it out of 5th to downshift. Luckily nobody was on my butt and I was able to pull off the track. Yanked on it and it came loose. Drove the rest of the session (last of the day) staying out of 5th. It's an 82SC, with a short shift (factory) and Siene system driven two years with no problem but this freak occurence.

The car shifted fine on the way home.

Anybody had a similar issue?

antaircooled · 05-17-2007, 12:05 PM

I had the same thing happen to me at the track - long straight 130mph in 5th and second gear hairpin arriving fast. I couldn't get the lever out of fifth so pulled off and got towed back to the pits. Let it cool down and it was OK after that. I have a 915 with factory short shift as well, but had just installed Tarett billet trans mounts so figured it was those that caused the problem. I have gone to wevo SS mounts and don't have any more issues with getting stuck in 5th. Maybe you could check your mounts or change them to the wevo and the other thing to look at is linkage bushings and the shift coupler.

I am just thinking of upgrading my shifter to something like the Seine gateshift as well.

Javers · 05-18-2007, 02:15 AM

While setting up my 915 with factory short shift and Seine gateshift I noticed its quite easy for the reverse lockout tab to hit the shifter shaft "straight on" while coming out of 5th. Check your shaft and reverse lockout tab, make sure they are well greased and you may need to loosen the two nuts on of the top gate plate and move it around a little to make sure the shifter shaft can easily slip past the lockout tab.

Jon

cab83_750 · 05-18-2007, 06:06 AM

I was not at the track but on fwys at high speed. Mine also has a s/s kit. It started to get stuck in 5th gear. This issue lasted 4 consecutive days.

After much researching the Pelican site, 3 things were mentioned:

1. The s/s kit lockout.
2. Shift coupler needs adjustment.
3. Low fluid level.

I checked #3 on mine and I was fine.
I did #2 (coupler adjustment) and I am stuck-free for over a 7-consecutive week.

Good luck.

dentist90 · dentist90's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by Javers
While setting up my 915 with factory short shift and Seine gateshift I noticed its quite easy for the reverse lockout tab to hit the shifter shaft "straight on" while coming out of 5th.
Jon

This is exactly what has happened to me several times. The shift lever goes forward just enough for the lockout cam to follow it, but gets stuck point-on behind the lever. I have released the stuck shifter by pushing it further forward into 5th (firmly) to allow the cam to click past. Adjusting your shift lever so it is a smidge more forward may resolve the problem.

PS: I'm not sure how to convert a smidge into metric. Perhaps a milli-tad?

dentist90 · dentist90's Garage

...then there is the related nicking of reverse while downshifting. Any of you guys get that problem? I can't seem to get the adjustment just right to avoid it on rapid 5-4 shifts.