Won't go into 1st

[red93gthb]

sometimes, like today, when im stopped at a red light it won't let me shift into first. usually i shift from N into 2nd then to 1st but i was stopped at a red light and i had to do that 3 times before it would go into 1st any idea's???

 

[capri debris]

Clutch cable needs adjustment or your 1st gear syncro is shot. Shifting into neutral is not going to help much... try shifting into 4th first, THEN shifting into 1st. I have to ask you... do you try to shift into 1st as you're rolling to a stop? If so, that's bad for the 1st gear syncro. The correct way to drive a stick is to wait till you come to a complete stop before shifting into 1st.

 

[magnj]

I have to ask you... do you try to shift into 1st as you're rolling to a stop? If so, that's bad for the 1st gear syncro. The correct way to drive a stick is to wait till you come to a complete stop before shifting into 1st.

Hmm, didn't know that. I assumed as long as the clutch was down it didn't matter but my moms car does complain when I do that so I guess I should stop . How about engine braking, I do that kind of frequently...is this bad?

 

[red93gthb]

no i always shift into neutral on coming to a stop, but i just got the car a week ago so i dont know about the other guy. it doesnt do it all the time but today i had to start from 2nd which sucked.

 

[capri debris]

Ok, here we go... and btw, all this is common sense.

When going highway speed, it's ok to down shift into a lower gear to help slow down and this will not hurt the tranny at all. But when coming to a stop, to keep stress on the sycros to a minimum, the proper way is to keep down shifting until you get to 2nd, push the clutch in and leave it in 2nd until you come to a complete stop, THEN gently shift into 1st. So many people driving stick try to jam it into 1st before they come to a complete stop... and WHY??? You know you're coming to a stop and aren't going to need to be in 1st until you go to pull out again, so what's the hurry to get it in 1st before you are stopped? Bumping it into neutral doesn't make sense either because you want the input shaft of the tranny to stop spinning before you try to engage 1st gear. The only way to get that done is to push in the clutch AND bump it into neutral at the same time... kinda redundant if you ask me. Many people are wrecking their syncros because of these bad habits and not even aware they are doing harm to the tranny. Driving a stick is a vey intuitive process... yeah, lots of people can do it, but they are doing it incorrectly. The driver must be aware of the speed of the engine, the speed of the tranny input shaft, the speed of the tranny ouput shaft and how they are all moving in relation to each other... there's so much more to driving a stick than just clutching and jamming it into the gear you want.

And on a side note... when I see someone slipping the clutch to hold the car still on a hill because they are too lazy to push the clutch in and hold the car with the brake, I could walk up and punch them in the face. That's probably the worst thing you could do to a clutch.

 

[v8only]

very good theory, and excellent practice to engage in, but I rebuild t5's on occasion, and generally the first gear syncro or first gear never wears out.

The problems with t5's are nearly always second gear, and second gear syncro from speed shifting/power shifting and sometimes not having the clutch fully depressed before you shift (GRIND)....or shattered third gear.

I generally NEVER use the clutch to downshift at all. I'll just slip it into neutral, or leave my foot on the clutch. It's a whole hell of a lot easier to pay for brake pads then a clutch.

I agree on the solution...the clutch adjustment is too loose.

 

[magnj]

Ok, here we go... and btw, all this is common sense.

When going highway speed, it's ok to down shift into a lower gear to help slow down and this will not hurt the tranny at all. But when coming to a stop, to keep stress on the sycros to a minimum, the proper way is to keep down shifting until you get to 2nd, push the clutch in and leave it in 2nd until you come to a complete stop, THEN gently shift into 1st. So many people driving stick try to jam it into 1st before they come to a complete stop... and WHY??? You know you're coming to a stop and aren't going to need to be in 1st until you go to pull out again, so what's the hurry to get it in 1st before you are stopped? Bumping it into neutral doesn't make sense either because you want the input shaft of the tranny to stop spinning before you try to engage 1st gear. The only way to get that done is to push in the clutch AND bump it into neutral at the same time... kinda redundant if you ask me. Many people are wrecking their syncros because of these bad habits and not even aware they are doing harm to the tranny. Driving a stick is a vey intuitive process... yeah, lots of people can do it, but they are doing it incorrectly. The driver must be aware of the speed of the engine, the speed of the tranny input shaft, the speed of the tranny ouput shaft and how they are all moving in relation to each other... there's so much more to driving a stick than just clutching and jamming it into the gear you want.

And on a side note... when I see someone slipping the clutch to hold the car still on a hill because they are too lazy to push the clutch in and hold the car with the brake, I could walk up and punch them in the face. That's probably the worst thing you could do to a clutch.

Pretty harsh, maybe next time you could enlighten us without the condescending attitude? Maybe I didn't anyone to teach me how to drive a manual?

 

[MustangLX-5.0]

I know quite well about shifting without using the clutch.It's just a matter of timing the engine speed with the output shaft speed.I can do it quite well.But I heard T5's don't tollerate it very well.

The past year ..most of the time I've had to shift it to second then shift to first just to get it to go into first.I'll sit there and push into first but it's like it's stuck.If I dont do the second gear method,I'll hold it against first gear and slightly let up on the clutch...then..it pops into gear.And then,every great once in a while it like to "POP" out of gear as I'm taking off.I hate that.

Also have a problem with second gear.Half the time it grinds.If I get on it and then shift very fast into second,there's an 80% chance it'll grind.Also,If I'm coasting about 10 - 15 mph and I push the clutch in,hold the clutch then slide it back and forth 2nd to 1st to 2nd,it quick grinds everytime it hits second,like a quick "Chop".

Only if I shift very slowly..will it not grind second.Otherwise it's 80 percent of the time.

 

[snakebite01]

Ok, here we go... and btw, all this is common sense.

When going highway speed, it's ok to down shift into a lower gear to help slow down and this will not hurt the tranny at all. But when coming to a stop, to keep stress on the sycros to a minimum, the proper way is to keep down shifting until you get to 2nd, push the clutch in and leave it in 2nd until you come to a complete stop, THEN gently shift into 1st. So many people driving stick try to jam it into 1st before they come to a complete stop... and WHY??? You know you're coming to a stop and aren't going to need to be in 1st until you go to pull out again, so what's the hurry to get it in 1st before you are stopped? Bumping it into neutral doesn't make sense either because you want the input shaft of the tranny to stop spinning before you try to engage 1st gear. The only way to get that done is to push in the clutch AND bump it into neutral at the same time... kinda redundant if you ask me. Many people are wrecking their syncros because of these bad habits and not even aware they are doing harm to the tranny. Driving a stick is a vey intuitive process... yeah, lots of people can do it, but they are doing it incorrectly. The driver must be aware of the speed of the engine, the speed of the tranny input shaft, the speed of the tranny ouput shaft and how they are all moving in relation to each other... there's so much more to driving a stick than just clutching and jamming it into the gear you want.

And on a side note... when I see someone slipping the clutch to hold the car still on a hill because they are too lazy to push the clutch in and hold the car with the brake, I could walk up and punch them in the face. That's probably the worst thing you could do to a clutch.

that's great stuff that people should know.. i wouldn't so much say it's common sense because not everyone will sit there and study how a tranny works... so that was kinda harsh but the information was great..

-Matt

Pretty harsh, maybe next time you could enlighten us without the condescending attitude? Maybe I didn't anyone to teach me how to drive a manual?

+1

I know quite well about shifting without using the clutch.It's just a matter of timing the engine speed with the output shaft speed.I can do it quite well.But I heard T5's don't tollerate it very well.

The past year ..most of the time I've had to shift it to second then shift to first just to get it to go into first.I'll sit there and push into first but it's like it's stuck.If I dont do the second gear method,I'll hold it against first gear and slightly let up on the clutch...then..it pops into gear.And then,every great once in a while it like to "POP" out of gear as I'm taking off.I hate that.

Also have a problem with second gear.Half the time it grinds.If I get on it and then shift very fast into second,there's an 80% chance it'll grind.Also,If I'm coasting about 10 - 15 mph and I push the clutch in,hold the clutch then slide it back and forth 2nd to 1st to 2nd,it quick grinds everytime it hits second,like a quick "Chop".

Only if I shift very slowly..will it not grind second.Otherwise it's 80 percent of the time.

that's your syncro's that are bad.. it's common..

 

[snakebite01]

sometimes, like today, when im stopped at a red light it won't let me shift into first. usually i shift from N into 2nd then to 1st but i was stopped at a red light and i had to do that 3 times before it would go into 1st any idea's???

what is the clutch that is in the car?? it could very well be as simple as a clutch cable adjustment. it could also be your stock "plastic" quadrant that is worn and might need to be replace.. your best bet is to get the steeda clutch quadrant, and cable.. it does wonders to clutch pressure and dis-engaging the clutch...

 

[v8only]

when it grinds it's syncro's...and by the time it comes apart you'll need not only syncro's but a new second gear too, and maybe a new 1/2 slider

 

[NIKwoaC]

Ok, here we go... and btw, all this is common sense.

When going highway speed, it's ok to down shift into a lower gear to help slow down and this will not hurt the tranny at all. But when coming to a stop, to keep stress on the sycros to a minimum, the proper way is to keep down shifting until you get to 2nd, push the clutch in and leave it in 2nd until you come to a complete stop, THEN gently shift into 1st. So many people driving stick try to jam it into 1st before they come to a complete stop... and WHY??? You know you're coming to a stop and aren't going to need to be in 1st until you go to pull out again, so what's the hurry to get it in 1st before you are stopped? Bumping it into neutral doesn't make sense either because you want the input shaft of the tranny to stop spinning before you try to engage 1st gear. The only way to get that done is to push in the clutch AND bump it into neutral at the same time... kinda redundant if you ask me. Many people are wrecking their syncros because of these bad habits and not even aware they are doing harm to the tranny. Driving a stick is a vey intuitive process... yeah, lots of people can do it, but they are doing it incorrectly. The driver must be aware of the speed of the engine, the speed of the tranny input shaft, the speed of the tranny ouput shaft and how they are all moving in relation to each other... there's so much more to driving a stick than just clutching and jamming it into the gear you want.

And on a side note... when I see someone slipping the clutch to hold the car still on a hill because they are too lazy to push the clutch in and hold the car with the brake, I could walk up and punch them in the face. That's probably the worst thing you could do to a clutch.

+1 On that hill thing, it gives me chills just seeing it. You can almost smell the clutch burning.

But I think the stopping process you outlined is too stringent. You have to consider that the input shaft's rotational inertia is so negligible by the time you're shifting into first after stopping that it really isn't putting a lot of demand on first gear's blocker (syncro) rings. If everybody drove a car like you are suggesting to, then first gear wouldn't even need syncros.

I know quite well about shifting without using the clutch.It's just a matter of timing the engine speed with the output shaft speed.I can do it quite well.But I heard T5's don't tollerate it very well.

The past year ..most of the time I've had to shift it to second then shift to first just to get it to go into first.I'll sit there and push into first but it's like it's stuck.If I dont do the second gear method,I'll hold it against first gear and slightly let up on the clutch...then..it pops into gear.And then,every great once in a while it like to "POP" out of gear as I'm taking off.I hate that.

Also have a problem with second gear.Half the time it grinds.If I get on it and then shift very fast into second,there's an 80% chance it'll grind.Also,If I'm coasting about 10 - 15 mph and I push the clutch in,hold the clutch then slide it back and forth 2nd to 1st to 2nd,it quick grinds everytime it hits second,like a quick "Chop".

Only if I shift very slowly..will it not grind second.Otherwise it's 80 percent of the time.

Sure, its possible to shift without the clutch and not grind (by timing the engine RPM and vehicle speed just right) but I think that places a LOT of demand on the syncros. Consider a tiny, 3 inch diameter clutch with a 3000 pound car on one end and a 10.5" clutch, flywheel, and rotating assembly spinning 50-60 times a second on the other. Its asking the syncro clutch to do a lot, even if you are shifting gently. That's just my opinion though, I can't say I've ever seen any real evidence of destruction from doing this.