1st gear feeling like 2nd

[dimeified]

You all know the 915 gearbox, and the inherent "one mississippi" rule when shifting between first and second. You know how hard it is to slip into gear if you ignore this rule. Lately the past few days at stop lights, i have a hard time getting into first. I'll be honest, my left foot may be a little lazy lately, but say it isnt, are we looking at a cable adjustment or transmission work? I'm not experiencing grinding in any gears during shifting.

[Oh Haha]

As always, start with the simple stuff first. Cable adjustment would be the first place I would start. How is it going into reverse? Typically, first gear on the 915 isn't "usable" until almost a dead stop/ However, there are guys out there that will tell you they can get first anytime under 25MPH. Mine seems to be whenver it feels like going into gear. Somedays, it goes in like butter, others not so much. I generally don't even bother with first until I am stopped saving the grinding.

[dimeified]

I never downshift to 1st. Reverse is ok with no grinding, so long as i wait a couple second after im at a dead stop, and slowly shift into gear.

[ramonesfreak]

i never downshift into 1st unless im at 10mph, but, if i want to, i can at 25+ no problem. transmission was rebuilt 3 years ago

[Oh Haha]

So, it has gotten harder to engage first gear while stopped, correct?

i would go for the cable adjustment if that's the case.

Do a search here for clutch adjustment and you can read lots of info on the task. It's pretty simple to do. While you are lookin' at it, check the general condition of the cable and replace if you see any fraying or bad spots.

[dimeified]

I did the adjustment once before a year and a half ago so i didn't think i should need an adjustment again. IF the cable adjustment fixes it then i speculate that the cable is probably fraying and needs to be replaced.

[crustychief]

Check your roll pin in the clutch pedal shaft! Mine did exactly the same thing.
Clutch adjustment problem found and repaired

[Jack Olsen]

'One Mississippi rule?' This is new to me. I don't think you need to do anything like this on a properly-functioning 915. Granted, you don't want to slam it into 2nd.

You might need some new synchros.

[livi]

I experience one single problem with my 915. Pretty often almost impossible getting into first gear. No grinding, just won´t slip in. Eventually I found out a sequence that works. Rolling to a stop, clutch depressed. One last stab at the brake pedal, almost at standstill, then immediately release the brakes and at the same time drop in first gear. Like butter. Every time.

Have no idea why this works, but it does.

[dimeified]

Second has always been difficult to engage if i moved to quickly. I always need to pause for one missisipi and slide in second nice and easy. I've read other threads of complaints about that and people saying this was normal. But now that first is difficult im wondering what is going on. I did notice that over time my clutch throw seems less like a newer car, and is a little easier to press the pedal down now, however the return spring always brings the pedal back up. After i get the car inspected later next week, i'll throw the car up on the lift and check out the cable when i swap exhausts.

[crustychief]

Check under the floorboard to see if the pedal cluster needs to be rebuilt.