ok, i think i figured out what my problem is, but this is the first manual trans i've ever really fooled with (helped dad rebuild a muncie 4-spd like...8 years ago but yeah, i dont remember much lol). anyways, to start off, the problem got progressively worse as i was moving it around. at the beginning of the day, i could pull the shifter back in reverse no problem, but i would have to keep a firm pull on it to hold it in reverse to keep it from grinding and popping out (and then grinding some more). after havin to back it up a few times, it would start to grind and chatter when i would try to put it into reverse, but it would eventually go into place, and then i had the same deal with tryin to keep in in reverse. by the time it was all over with, it wouldnt go into reverse anymore, it would just keep grinding and chattering when i would try to pull the shifter back into reverse.

im guessin bad synchro's right? never really havin messed with a manual transmission that's the only thing i could come up with off the top of my head. i read before that synchros have a tendancy to go bad fairly easy if the trans is abused (and believe me this car was in **** poor shape when i picked it up).

thanks,
mike

 

when i took my t5 to the transmission shop for a rebuild before i stuck it in my 85, the guy told me that reverse is not synchronized. at least on non-world class t5's. try putting it in 3rd or 5th gear before dropping it in reverse. should clear up the chattering and go right in. in any case, i have never been in any 5 speed car where reverse didnt chatter.

 

well, the thing is...it doesnt exactly go into reverse last time i tried. it's really mroe of a grind than a chatter. it sounds a lot like when somebody grinds 1-5, but i've got the clutch pushed in when im tryin to put it in reverse. if it isnt synchros...then i have no clue what it is :-\ guess ill find out sometime later this week (plan on pullin it tuesday).

thanks,
mike

 

Is the linkage adjusted correctly?

 

Maybe your shift fork is bent ..

Which would explain why is cant go in gear easely.

 

well, thanks to the 80-some degree weather we're sposed to have tomorrow, i should get the trans yanked out of it...and then hopefully find out what's wrong following soon after.

 

Check the shifter bolts.

Check fluid in tranny and clutch.

There is no linkage to adjust.

The reverse gear might be broken, they aren't that strong.

There is no synchro on the reverse gear. That's why before putting the car in reverse you should put it in 1st. This slows the tranny down and helps align the gears.