Moving shifter into reverse is crunchy
 

So moving into first and second are also crunchy, but moving the shifter into reverse is 2 times more crunchy.

The crunchy feeling is just the synchros doing the job?

Most likely the triple cone synchros just being themselves.

The colder it is, the stiffer they get.

I suggest you be at a complete stop before trying to go into first or reverse.

When going from 1st to 2nd, I find a firm, slow pull helps.


humfrz

Do you engage reverse while the car is still going forward? Cuz that's real bad for the synchros.

I have the same problems as well, just make sure the car/oils are all warm before driving and shifting hard. What I do is cycle through all the gears with clutch in and then start driving, helps with the crunchiness

If I'm not mistaken, the reverse gear doesn't have a synchro.
Isn't that why it tends to be more "crunchy"?

Yep, that's my understanding. Ya got three gears playing in reverse mode, one gear on the counter shaft and one gear on the output shaft and a little gear running around in between trying to hook them up. So, everybody has to hold still for a moment before the output shaft starts to go the other way around ...... or something like that .....:)


humfrz

Then, you're doing it wrong. Done correctly, shifting into reverse will not produce crunching.


Yes. That's normal to experience severe crunching when shifting into reverse, when done IMPROPERLY.

No.

Synchros actually synchronize the speeds of two gears to be meshed together so that they mesh smoothly and quietly. It's the opposite of what you're thinking. Crunching means the synchros did NOT work as they should.

In the case of our FT86s I don't believe we have synchromesh on our reverse gears. Most cars do not, although some do.

In any case, shift properly and reverse gear will not crunch.

The manual does not appear to explain this properly:

1) Car must be at a complete STOP; the wheels not rolling at all.


2) Depress the clutch pedal to the floor, aka "de-clutch."


3) Wait five seconds (perhaps less, but let's be sure); this allows a geared shaft to come to a stop inside the transmission.


4) Lift the reverse lockout ring on the shift lever, and select reverse gear. It's normal to find that sometimes it won't go in all the way. That's just the teeth landing atop one another, and one simply needs to shift the gear teeth to the side slightly to allow them to mesh properly. We do that by moving the shift lever back to the center, then shift into any other forward gear. This should shift the shaft slightly. Now, try selecting R again. This should work, but repeat as needed.


5) When the gears are allowed to come to a complete stop, reverse may be selected without any crunching.


6) Crunching is as bad as it sounds. So, don't do it. :)

I believe you are correct. Most, but not all, cars lack any synchromesh on their reverse gears.

Well... sort of.

See my post above, and if I can explain further, let me know. :)