Is it normal for stiff shifting with new synchro rings?

[Joe Papa Sr]

Well, after 2 months of driving, the shifting is still kinda tight, especially in 1st gear. Man, is this expected with brand new rings in 1,2,and 3rd gears?

Thanks for feedback!

Joe

[Pat Padden]

Joe..the tranny was pretty stiff in my '74 GTV after a rebuild. I adjusted the clutch mechanism so it's as loose as I dare which helped marginally. After several thousand miles I changed out the tranny fluid (I have no idea what was in it) to Shell Spirax and it shifts quite a bit easier now. It seems happiest when the air temp is in the 90's Farenheit. On cold days it's still a bit stiff even after I've put 5k miles on it. I've taken to double clutching up and down when it's cold. I'm sure that some rebuilt tranny's are really sweet to shift but mine is not one of them.

Pat

[Joe Papa Sr]

Thanks, Pat. Dont think its oil, as I changed it already after about 700m, to redline 75w-90ns....Yup, still very stiff, esp to 1st gear. But, at least, I got rid of that 1st gear grunch!! (I did do the 1st gear fix, from 60's racer)......

[Pat Padden]

Joe...sounds identical to mine. let me know if you figure it out.

Pat

[Joe Papa Sr]

OK. Stay tuned to this forum.....the shop guy warned me of this little breaking in quirk. I hope it is for real breaking in, and not "the way it will be from now on".....

(hey, what about all the rest of the guys here? cmon, lets hear your experience with this! Share your info!! (chuckle)......

[Alfar7]

Its normal. be happy somethings stiff at our age.

[crashmctavish]

I would say its not normal, do you put it in second and then 1st? Same for reverse 4th then reverse. If its still stiff it will wear the brass selector forks. It should change smoothly as mine does after I rebuilt it. Who rebuilt the box? it sounds like damage to the interlock slots.

[Alfar7]

Again, it is normal. There should be resistance. If it is "hard" however, it indicates to me that perhaps the 1st/2nd shift fork could be worn or bent . I would think you checked it for angularity and thickness.

By the way, the forks are nor brass, they are silicon bronze in early 101/105 boxes and steel in later 105 and all 115 cases and transaxles. If the sliders can woble in the forks, toss the forks, and replace them. Later forks fit the earlier ones.
Bronze ones can be welded up and reinforced and actually made better than new with more contact area (3 point as steel) if restoring special "built" boxes. see below before & after pics. Before is the bottom one...

[crashmctavish]

Silicon bronze brass or steel it should not be stiff. The interlock bean grooves can have marks on them which can be stoned out. Original road tests for 105's described "knife through butter" Some resistance yes but smooth, I think we are saying the same thing, strip the transmission and inspect it.

[Joe Papa Sr]

Thanks, guys. Man, I cant undo that trans.....too big a project to redo. I inspected the forks, and even had some bad ones at hand to compare, and mine appeared OK. I didnt have this problem with the old trans before I dismantled, just grind problem, which, I assume, was worn rings. (The shifting seems to do better when giving the gas pedal the little "blip", though.

So I put in new rings, and just thinking these new rings, all else being equal, , are new/stiff, but man, 1st is too stiff.

Had an expert trans shop locally do it. He even does some wholesale work. I dont go to 2nd before 1st anymore, cuz I did the 1st gear fix , which slows down the gear even faster preventing grunch. Dont know what to think, and I know its kinda speculation at this point....but I still appreciate your ideas on it!

[alfaman1963]

Hi Joe ,
Was the clutch replaced when the tranny was rebuilt? You may have a clutch that is dragging...Also does it grind going into rev? Jim

[crashmctavish]

Talk to the guy that overhauled it. I still think you may have some burrs on the interlock beans.

[Joe Papa Sr]

Quote:

Originally Posted by alfaman1963 Hi Joe , Was the clutch replaced when the tranny was rebuilt? You may have a clutch that is dragging...Also does it grind going into rev? Jim

[Joe Papa Sr]

Quote:

Originally Posted by crashmctavish Talk to the guy that overhauled it. I still think you may have some burrs on the interlock beans.

[Joe Papa Sr]

The replacement parts came from a trans I bought, which ended up having good/excellent dog teeth, but ironically, v bad worn forks. My forks were good, but bad dog teeth. Talk about luck!

(although not sure stiff 1st and 2nd gears is good luck)