Won't shift into second

[aston@ultrasw.c]

85 Carrera - 915 trans

It won't shift into second. It bulks. No nasty noises or anything but the shifter is very sure it doesn't want to move into the bottom left corner.

I am resigned to the fact that when something goes wrong, it is often related to the last thing I fixed.

This maybe no exception

I had just pulled off the shifter mechanism and installed a very racy Momo shift knob. I managed to get the original off without breaking it, but I digress.

So I went for a quick blast, up and down the box a few times yeaaah....then waaaaaa into second, into second.......into....third??!?

No more secong cog. Bollocks.

[Flieger]

Have you checked your shift rod bushing (directly behind the shifter and inside the tunnel mounted in a ring bracket) and the shifter ball cup bushing?

If these bushings are good, check your shift coupler alignment.

If you need procedural advice, please post.

[aston@ultrasw.c]

Thanks for the quick reply.

Bushings are all OK, they look to be fairly new. Anyway I helped them with a little extra grease.

No 2nd.

Then I went to the coupler. Loosen, CCW here, CCW there, tighten.

No 2nd.

I then over adjusted so I had no 5th.

You guessed it...no 2nd.

BasTARD.

[Flieger]

So the shifter will not move into the 2nd gate?

Or does it feel like the shifter will go there but the syncro is working to stop you? Do you feel a little "wirring" noise as the syncro spools up, accompanied by the balking restitance to the shifter's motion?

I am having a little trouble understanding what your symptoms are from your initial post.

Have you tried getting second with the engine off (but still using the clutch) ?

[aston@ultrasw.c]

Originally Posted by Flieger

Or does it feel like the shifter will go there but the syncro is working to stop you? Do you feel a little "wirring" noise as the syncro spools up, accompanied by the balking restitance to the shifter's motion?

Exactly.

Originally Posted by Flieger

Have you tried getting second with the engine off (but still using the clutch) ?

Yes. It will not engage.

I think the linkage, bushings and adjustment are all OK at least as far as the coupling.

It appears as if the selector shaft itself does not want to move. When the clamp was loose and I moved the gear lever into second the shift rod simply pulled off the coupling.

[Flieger]

Sorry I cannot be of more help. Maybe your detents have come loose?

"John Walker's Workshop" is a transaxle guy to ask.

[aston@ultrasw.c]

Thanks for your help.

Still no second gear.

What are the chances that the transmission would crap out on the same day that I install a new shift knob?

Balls.

[john walker's workshop]

probably blew the teeth off the 2nd gear syncro hub. dog teeth. the drainplug magnet is a good place to look for them. if so, i would not recommend driving it, or loose chunks like the syncro, brake band, stop dog, anchor block can go through the gears and make it hurt more than it already does. 1st and 2nd both do this. see this thread.
Can't Shift Into First

[dentist90]

That's the primary reason I repaired my tranny... 2nd would absolutely balk sometimes, no grinding... just won't go.

Drained tranny oil to find these:



Upon disassembly it was confirmed. This is/was 2nd gear synchro hub:



If you have any shifting issues with any of your other gears (usually 1st) it's time to order parts and get in there. Sorry dude.

[aston@ultrasw.c]

Bloody Hell!

OK I'll drain the fluid tomorrow - there's nothing quite like the sound of expensive metal hitting the bottom of a drain pan.

[aston@ultrasw.c]

I drained the oil and look what I found clinging to the drain plug.

Bol_LOCKS!!



Time for a gb rebuild.

[john walker's workshop]

that's why i like to replace both 1st and 2nd teeth on rebuilds, regardless of what they look like.