915 won't go into first gear while moving

[theiceman]

my points exactly ..

[PabloX]

Mine doesn't go into 1st easily either. Hell, sometimes it doesn't like going into 2nd.

[KTL]

Agreed 1st synchro is a wear item that needs replacement. Unfortunately it's due to the frictional nature of the old style synchros. They're not nearly as tolerant of abuse/ignorance as the modern synchros.

I remember years ago in my teens I was a porter/car washer at the local Acura store. Went for a service test drive with friend Tim who was a tech. He wanted me to drive & he would listen for stuff. While on the drive, I shifted into 1st at about 30 mph while coasting to a stop. Just pushed the clutch in, no rev match, and no release of clutch to engage the engine. Just kept the clutch in while we rolled along in "neutral" approaching the stop.

When I did it, as i'd done a number of times in the past, you could hear the high pitched zing of the synchros doing their magic to spin-up input & output shaft speeds. Sort of like a turbo spooling up. It took no effort on my part to stick the shifter in 1st. It just slipped right in w/out much effort if at all- pure Honda magic Tim said, "Hey, don't do that. You can blow up the synchros!" I had no idea since I was just a young kid still learning even the basics about cars. Ignorance and the trans allowed me to do it!

Agreed 100% that downshifting or any shifting for that matter is only done when necessary. Brakes are WAY cheaper than clutches and synchros!

[911pcars]

Originally Posted by Bob Kontak

I would think so but I have never done it on mine (I don't think going that fast).

You mean you don't double-clutch? It's not that it's a "have to go fast" situation to do it.

There is no reason. I just tried it a few times after the rebuild and it worked when slowing down at a stop sign. I said "Sweet" and then never did it again. Brake pads are way cheaper.

Double clutching isn't a strategy to replace brakes. So, you just downshift knowing the long-term consequences? Thus, when you approach a corner under braking at reduced speed you downshift (no DC), then continue at speed around said corner? Uh. Ok. So noted.

Sherwood

[Nick Triesch]

When I bought my 911 I thought the 915 was toast! Till I learned how to drive it. A ton of tips and tricks in the search. I now know I can drive it the way it is for years to come. It's just that nobody else can!!! Which is a good thing.

[JAR0023]

Originally Posted by Bob Kontak

I would think so but I have never done it on mine (I don't think going that fast). There is no reason. I just tried it a few times after the rebuild and it worked when slowing down at a stop sign. I said "Sweet" and then never did it again. Brake pads are way cheaper.

Mine will. Maybe 20K on a rebuild. Any speed below 20. Just apply a little pressure and let the syncro work. Drops right in. That being said I don't do that very often at all. I'm aware of the rebuild costs so I typically wait until 5mph or so. More often if I find the need to be in first gear "right now" I'll double clutch and bump the revs to help smooth the shift. -J

[rwilner]

Very common, same in my '86. I've gotten used to only going into first while stopped, and always go down into 2nd before going up into first (while in neutral with the clutch out at a stoplight, the trans will be turning, so going down into 2nd aligns the gears before going up into 1st... or something like that!).

This, in my 84

[firstclassof86]

My 86 is the same. It has to come to a complete stop. Not 1mph, not .5mph....0.0mph then it will slide easily into first.