[Joe Papa Sr]

Now , when I take off in first, sometimes the first gear will pop out, car of course, stalling in traffic temporarily, not engine wise, just tranny wise. Why?
Just topped off gearbox with oil, too, although, this happened before topping off.
Thanks

 

[ghnl]

Are you sure it is all the way into 1st? Sometimes the console or a shift boot that is too taut prevents the lever from fully engaging a gear.

 

[Alfacliff]

my 74 had this problem, replaceing the boots and adjusting the console helped, replacing the passenger side motor munt heped too, now onl jumps out of reverse once in a while.
feeling the console while puting into first should indicate if this is the problem.
cliff

 

[Joe Papa Sr]

Good ideas, guys. I will check it out. Otherwise, what could be happening?

Thanks,
Joe

 

[Alfacliff]

I had a 63 ford that did that after running it out of lube. you dont really want that. try the simple stuff first, might save you a lot of worry. but check the lube anyway, just in case.

 

[mflugel]

Engine mounts and transmission mounts are the main culprit. My car used to pop out of revers. I changed out the engine mounts and transission mounts and the problem went away. In fact it drives like a new car. Just by the standard rubber mounts, they work great.

 

[ghnl]

Checking the engine & transmission mounts is a good idea. My assumption is that as they age & sag (keep yer comments to yerselves...) the shift lever is not positioned in the console correctly and thus it is prevented from fully engaging 1-3-5 &/or 2-4-R.

 

[Alfacliff]

thats right, the radiator hoses and exhaust cant hold the engine up forever.
cliff

 

[spidryell]

I replaced the motor mounts and the transmission mounts this summer on my car. It is easy to tell when the transmission mount is sagging, but my motor mounts looked quite good until I placed them side by side with the new ones. I replaced them because I knew they had never been replaced. Is there a way for Joe Papa Sr to know when to replace motor mounts?

 

[bigpapajoe]

hey guys, we put in new motor mounts less than three years ago...I wouldnt think they would wear down that quickly...or would they??

The transmission mounts I'm not sure of, gonna have to get that answer from my dad.

It also happens when I try and hold the shift lever in place/push it in 'farther' - - so I don't think thats the issue.

Thanks for all the support!!

 

[Joe Papa Sr]

hey guys, we put in new motor mounts less than three years ago...I wouldnt think they would wear down that quickly...or would they??

The transmission mounts I'm not sure of, gonna have to get that answer from my dad.

It also happens when I try and hold the shift lever in place/push it in 'farther' - - so I don't think thats the issue.

Thanks for all the support!!

What are you doing on this forum at 12:00 midnight? shouldnt you be studying instead??! I will take care of the Alfa troubles, you worry about school for now. I'm also gonna tell Mommy about this.

Anyway, Yeah, new motor mounts, but dont remember about the trans mount. I will have to check it......

Thanks for all the ideas.

Joe

 

[spidryell]

Motor mounts should not be bad after a couple of years. If they were bad it could cause the problem since the motor/tranny would tilt forward and down possibly causing the clearance issue with the shifter in first. Bad transmission mount cause the assembly to tilt the other way and causes problems most often with reverse. Recomendations on checking the boot and console make the most sense now. If you get that all apart and see that you are not hitting something when putting it in first -- well then you are likely getting inside the tranny. I had a couple broken teeth on the reverse gear that was causing my transmission to jump out of reverse. My research on the threads on this topic lead me to understand that most times the problem is with the console clearance so don't jump to transmission internals yet.

 

[SpiderFrek]

In my 83 Spider the same problem but with retro....the problem are the gear box mount, now i have a new gear box mount, and the reinforcement mount kit by powerflex...now the gear is perfect in all speed!!!

Sorry for my tragically description...english is not my language!!!!

In this topic of italian forum complete description with operactions pictures...

Supporto Cambio... - codatronca.com

 

[Joe Papa Sr]

Motor mounts should not be bad after a couple of years. If they were bad it could cause the problem since the motor/tranny would tilt forward and down possibly causing the clearance issue with the shifter in first. Bad transmission mount cause the assembly to tilt the other way and causes problems most often with reverse. Recomendations on checking the boot and console make the most sense now. If you get that all apart and see that you are not hitting something when putting it in first -- well then you are likely getting inside the tranny. I had a couple broken teeth on the reverse gear that was causing my transmission to jump out of reverse. My research on the threads on this topic lead me to understand that most times the problem is with the console clearance so don't jump to transmission internals yet.

OK, console clearance.....hopefully, this will require to undo ONLY the boot brace/rim, right? Hope I dont have to removethe whole console. But if need be, I will.

 

[Joe Papa Sr]

Just checked records, (dont have the car here), new gearbox mount in 2004. Cant be deteriorated in just 3 yrs, right? Further checks to be done soon........

 

[Gary Williams]

As the interior rubber transmission boots age they become less flexible. I'd try driving without them on, or with them loose, to see if that helps.

 

[grthor82]

I'd be carefull with it,mine was poping out of second and ended up running a synchronizer ring through it. It actually came out of the drain hole almost straight. Needless to say the transmission was not worth the core. I found a used one that has been very serviceable. Good luck with it!

 

[Joe Papa Sr]

Update: Car up on jack stands. Crawled under, and trans mount appears OK (new 3 yrs ago). Motor mounts still look good (new in 2004).

Just what is this concept of "adjusting the console"?? My console just attached according to permanent screws into holes that are not "adjustable". I dont know what you are talking about here. Also, 1st gear, besides, engages fully when placed into position, and even settles back just slightly (maybe 1/4 inch. second the same). So, in conclusion, the stick in 1st, is not bumping up against the console when in position, so this cant be the culprit. (FWIW, the leather boot has a hole in it from wear from bumping up against the top of the console when placed into 1st. This seems strange. But could be from this being not the orig, and as you know, many times, the replacement is a little different fit. A little extra bulk, and there you have it....bulked up excess wearing>)

filled gearbox up not too long ago. It is not low, I believe. Anyway, a mystery, and a scary one, as I dont have any other ideas to remedy, people.
Merry Christmas.

Joe

 

[Tifosi]

(FWIW, the leather boot has a hole in it from wear from bumping up against the top of the console when placed into 1st.

I had that occur when the rubber bushing in the shift lever itself down by the clamp point went bad after umpteen years.

Just a potential reason for the wear hole(s), but not really relevant to your popping out issue unless the bush is so bad it's allowing the shift lever to flex enough to where the gear doesn't get completely engaged before you run out of shift lever throw and biff the console.

If the shift post feels a bit 'soft' or 'wobbly' even when engaged in a gear, you may want to investigate that bushing.


As to adjusting the console, there is room for a bit of movement in there even with the seemingly non-adjustable fixtures.

Loosen up the two screws down low on the front along with those two up high on the sides near where they meet the console face directly under the dash face, along with any at the back that connect to cross bracing.

That'll allow for a bit of shucking around with various parts of the console to get a more ideal alignment.

Granted, you aren't going to move anything by inches, but certainly you can get 1/2" here, a 1/4" there, etc.

 

[Joe Papa Sr]

I had that occur when the rubber bushing in the shift lever itself down by the clamp point went bad after umpteen years.

Just a potential reason for the wear hole(s), but not really relevant to your popping out issue unless the bush is so bad it's allowing the shift lever to flex enough to where the gear doesn't get completely engaged before you run out of shift lever throw and biff the console.

If the shift post feels a bit 'soft' or 'wobbly' even when engaged in a gear, you may want to investigate that bushing.


As to adjusting the console, there is room for a bit of movement in there even with the seemingly non-adjustable fixtures.

Loosen up the two screws down low on the front along with those two up high on the sides near where they meet the console face directly under the dash face, along with any at the back that connect to cross bracing.

That'll allow for a bit of shucking around with various parts of the console to get a more ideal alignment.

Granted, you aren't going to move anything by inches, but certainly you can get 1/2" here, a 1/4" there, etc.

I hear you , Tif. You're right, now I remember. I can maybe get that console up more even 1/8 to 1/4 ". May help. Now, to go back out there in 70 deg weather.....LOL! Sorry, didnt mean to rub it in.....