Alright, what did I break in my stupidity?

[AdamKaz]

A couple months ago, I was using the Haynes manual to split my G50 trans from my 3.2 engine and it didn't go so well. I undid the bolts and wires, then attempted to pull, pry, and violently coerce the two apart. I used giant screwdrivers, small crow bars, and even ratchet straps and ceiling rafters attempting to break the 30yr old seal.

But the instructions were for a 915 trans.

I stopped, put it all back together and installed the whole caboodle back into the car. Then it was clear I broke something... 1st gear was very grumpy/stiff to slide into, while 2-5 where easy. I also had to hold the shifter into 1st otherwise it would pop out of gear within a few minutes.

Now I've dropped the engine, used a proper Bentley manual (yay!) and split the trans from the motor and I see......nothing wrong. Nothing is obviously bent or broken.

So what did I break?

TL;DR - my G50 hates going into first and pops out easily after I improperly tried prying the trans from the engine.

[budge96]

Likely in your overzealous attempt to separate the gearbox from the engine the clutch fingers have been stretched or pulled just enough to either engage or disengage the clutch without your input..
Just an idea...Bert

[AdamKaz]

Not agreeing or disagreeing with you - but you reminded me that I wanted to say:

the clutch pedal/actuation feels totally fine. I detect no weirdness through my foot.

[gomezoneill]

If you "hung" the trans shaft on the disc you may have (most likely) distorted or warped the disc.

[AVIMAX]

I'm not familiar with the G50 car, mine is a 915, but I assume they both have a shifter coupling and I wonder if it's possible that it's just a misalignment problem at the shifter coupling which you would have re and re'd to remove the engine and transmission? That could make finding 1st difficult.

When you were trying to get the transmission off the first time, did it split at all form the engine? Sounds like you couldn't break them apart at all and if not, I don't see how anything inside could be damaged.

[T77911S]

there is an update of some kind for the g50 shift fork or something, you might want to look into it.

[AdamKaz]

Originally Posted by gomezoneill

If you "hung" the trans shaft on the disc you may have (most likely) distorted or warped the disc.

I'm assuming you are referring to the clutch disc?

[DanielDudley]

Any way you could have had the shifter shaft improperly connected/adjusted at the coupler ?

Any way you could have bent the input shaft to the transmission ?

[Flojo]

Originally Posted by DanielDudley

Any way you could have bent the input shaft to the transmission ?

wonder how one could get that to happen unless dropping the tranny on the floor and shaft hitting floor first

[gomezoneill]

Originally Posted by AdamKaz

I'm assuming you are referring to the clutch disc?

Yes If you had no support IE: bolts and studs fastened to the transmission and let it drop while the input shaft was still engaged in the clutch disc it will distort it.

[Catorce]

You probably tried to separate the two without removing the clutch fork first. Common mistake. My guess now is bad throwout bearing, clutch fork beakrs / seals, clutch fork, or all three.

[yelcab1]

For the amount of labor it takes to remove a transmission, and the aggrevation involved in having to do it again, if it were I, replacement of pressure plate, pilot bearing, clutch shaft update, and throw out bearing is what I would do. Yes, it is expensive but mistakes during disassembly normally are expensive.

[AdamKaz]

shifter shaft improperly connected/adjusted at the coupler - unlikely and looks good

bent the input shaft - unlikely and looks good/straight/narrow

Originally Posted by Catorce

You probably tried to separate the two without removing the clutch fork first. Common mistake. My guess now is bad throwout bearing, clutch fork beakrs / seals, clutch fork, or all three.

That's exactly what I did.

I've just ordered a new pressure plate, clutch, pilot bearing, clutch fork update, and throw out bearing and other various pieces. I *hope* that will do it, and don't mind replacing a lot of these items since I'm in there anyway.

[KTL]

Make sure to check the fitment of your transmission guide tube to the new throw-out bearing. You need to make sure their diameters agree with each other

[AdamKaz]

FIXED!!!

Here's the final update, because who doesn't hate threads that don't solve the problem?

After tearing everything down and replacing the pressure plate, clutch, pilot bearing, clutch fork update, and throw out bearing the problem is gone!

I believe I bent the fingers on the pressure plate, but it could have been any combination of these pieces.

Tested it through the gears and everything is shifting crisply and having no difficulty going into gear! I was scared I broke an actual gear selector inside the trans, but nope!

Thank you to every single person who replied here and helped me solve this.

Cheers everyone!

[Flojo]

sounds great! thanks for the update.

one further question: did you change the shaft seal (A99911332740)? because pic shows most obvious leak of trans oil scattered in the housing...

Originally Posted by AdamKaz

[gomezoneill]

Yeah Baby!

[AdamKaz]

I changed the main seal on the crankcase as it was visibly leaking. I did not change the shaft seal. Perhaps a mistake, but when cleaning it appeared all leakage was coming from the engine side then whipped around by the clutch to the whole bell housing.

Time will tell...

[bigel]

Great news! Congrats!