Thread: Recent clutch job, now shifter wont move into position for 1st and 2nd

Got around to replacing my blown up ACT setup last Friday with a OEM Nissan (B15 dual spring disc) and MT-90 last Friday. Everything went fine with the install (dowel pins were accounted for ), car drove and shifted liked butter. Went to a buddies Sat night, and went to turn around in the drive way....went to go to 1st gear and the shifter wouldn't move over into position for 1st or 2nd gears....but 3-5, and Rev worked fine( Same thing car ON or OFF) .....At this point im already like WTF and feel like pushing it off a cliff and being done with it....

I left taking off in 3rd gear, riding a clutch that's not even broken in yet ....I get almost home and decided to try 2nd again, and it happened to move over and go it, same with 1st. worked for a day or so then it happened again .I originally though I had over tightened the 12mm for the shift linkage...that was not the issue. 2 day's ago I unhooked the linkage and the shifter mechanism on the trans would not rotate counter clockwise to go into position for 1st and 2nd. I could turn it clockwise for 3-5, rev though....

Tranny never showed in a prior symptoms of this, other than the slight sound of a box with 1 or 2 rocks in it when taking off in 1st (had this sound for past 4 months)..

The only change that was made to my trans prior to going back up was my NPS was leaking, and I used drain plug the same pitch and same height as the NPS to plug it ( if this was an issue, should've occurred when I 1st drove it after the clutch install)

From what i've read, looks like I may have broken a gear or something in my trans that has gotten stuck in the shift mechanism , preventing the shifter to move into place for 1st or 2nd.... I may need a trans regardless...

Any input would be greatly appreciated, Ive been fighting my trans for the past month. I'm almost ready to give up on the car completely

It does sound like a small piece of metal found its way into the shift linkage mechanism. You might be able to knock it loose with a lot of movement but it sounds like you're going to have to open up that transmission case and take a look.

Good news is that once you remove it, the transmission should continue to work at least as well as it did before if you don't want to replace it. It shouldn't sound like there are rocks in it though, regardless. =/

Check that all the bolts are present in the rear tranny mount. It's easy to miss the recessed ones, and if some are missing, the others can loosen up, causing the engine to tilt back, which will restrict the linkage movement.

C

If it comes down again, another one is probably going up. When it does come I will take the case off and take a look for any broken pieces...granted I do have another trans w/ a busted 3rd and 5th. Wonder if I could replace whats broken with those parts if its nothing major

Thanks, Ill check these when I get home, but like I mentioned. I tried it with the linkage completely disconnected, rotating the shifter on the trans manually...it still wouldn't rotate into place for 1st and 2nd. Even if there was a missing/loose bolt, that shouldn't have any affect on me still not being able to rotate the shifter on the trans into position for those gears...

Please correct me if I'm wrong..

Chris, he said he removed all the external linkage and went straight to the source, if you will, by trying to shift by manipulating the striking rod directly. That should eliminate the mounts or anything from a cause, yes?

Edit: Doh, see post above mine.

I don't always read messages completely, but when I do, I uh, uhm.. Squirrel!

-nevermind-

C

the whole problem is clutch install... now i know you got the throw out bearing clips "new" right?

Brand new TO w/ clips was installed with the clutch....I don't see how that would affect my shifter not moving into position for 1st and 2nd.

If it sounded like rocks were in there then theres gotta be something caught in the shift mechanism inside the trans. I don't see how the clutch would be the culprit in this case either tho I don't know everything.

Once you pull the trans out, opening up the case is pretty easy. I would take a look before I went a bought a new trans when you could potentially waste $300 for an extra 1/2 hr of work.