Balky 1st gear shift

[ogrowup]

back story first:

I had the typical 2nd gear notchy shift until I changed the transmission oil with Motul 300 and all was good. Over time I made a few (haha) mods and I now have the Cartboy short shift kit, ACT HDSS clutch kit w/ ACT streetlite flywheel, and the one piece carbon fiber driveshaft from Drive Shaft Shop.

Now, at times it can be really really difficult to get it into 1st gear. I started to keep track of it and this is what I discovered:

• 1st gear shift is never a problem if the car is rolling at all.
• It's not a problem while the oil temp is under 190 degrees
• this did not happen prior to the installation of the drive shaft

Once the car is good and hot, and I'm sitting at a traffic light, then it can often take multiple attempts to get it into 1st gear. I mean a lot of effort. I try to slip it in 3rd, then 1st. I try reverse then 1st. I try to rev match, and sometimes I just have to jam it into 1st. I've been driving manual transmissions for 45 years, so no, the problem is not my skill at a 6 speed.

Anyone have this problem? Any ideas out there how to fix this??

Anyone out there have this problem?

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by ogrowup

back story first:

I had the typical 2nd gear notchy shift until I changed the transmission oil with Motul 300 and all was good. Over time I made a few (haha) mods and I now have the Cartboy short shift kit, ACT HDSS clutch kit w/ ACT streetlite flywheel, and the one piece carbon fiber driveshaft from Drive Shaft Shop.

Now, at times it can be really really difficult to get it into 1st gear. I started to keep track of it and this is what I discovered:

• 1st gear shift is never a problem if the car is rolling at all.
• It's not a problem while the oil temp is under 190 degrees
• this did not happen prior to the installation of the drive shaft

Once the car is good and hot, and I'm sitting at a traffic light, then it can often take multiple attempts to get it into 1st gear. I mean a lot of effort. I try to slip it in 3rd, then 1st. I try reverse then 1st. I try to rev match, and sometimes I just have to jam it into 1st. I've been driving manual transmissions for 45 years, so no, the problem is not my skill at a 6 speed.

Anyone have this problem? Any ideas out there how to fix this??

Anyone out there have this problem?

With the list of mods that you have done that effect the shifter it may be tough to figure out what is going on.
All other gears ok all the time?

[bcj]

Drive shaft expanding and putting axial load on the trans tail shaft?

[3nl]

How many miles are on the transmission and how long have you had the Kartboy shifter installed? If it is happening while you are stopped and nothing in the transmission is moving (meaning nothing to synchronize) and it doesn't slide into first, it just might be a badly installed shifter. You said second is notchy, is it also hard to get it into second like first? If both are difficult, it might just be the shifter not connecting with the 1-2 shift linkage.

Once you do have it in first and warmed up, can you slide it into neutral and back to first with no effort?

[humfrz]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

With the list of mods that you have done that effect the shifter it may be tough to figure out what is going on.
All other gears ok all the time?

Well, that's for sure ......

First thing I would do is take that short shifter off and see if it was the cause ....


humfrz

[ogrowup]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

With the list of mods that you have done that effect the shifter it may be tough to figure out what is going on.
All other gears ok all the time?

yup
smooth as silk on all other gears, including 1st until it gets hot

[ogrowup]

Originally Posted by 3nl

How many miles are on the transmission and how long have you had the Kartboy shifter installed? If it is happening while you are stopped and nothing in the transmission is moving (meaning nothing to synchronize) and it doesn't slide into first, it just might be a badly installed shifter. You said second is notchy, is it also hard to get it into second like first? If both are difficult, it might just be the shifter not connecting with the 1-2 shift linkage.

Once you do have it in first and warmed up, can you slide it into neutral and back to first with no effort?

Trans has 18,000 miles. Kartboy has been in there for at least 10,000 miles, with no issues at all. I did not start to have this problem until the driveshaft was installed. 2nd gear used to be notchy, but no longer is after i changed to motul 300.

The problem happens when:
the engine is hot
nothing is moving in the transmission

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by ogrowup

Trans has 18,000 miles. Kartboy has been in there for at least 10,000 miles, with no issues at all. I did not start to have this problem until the driveshaft was installed. 2nd gear used to be notchy, but no longer is after i changed to motul 300.

The problem happens when:
the engine is hot
nothing is moving in the transmission

HMMMMM then something is apparently expanding. Doubt it would be the shaft since heat has little impact on carbon fiber.
I am stumped.

[Teseo]

Tryed to put neutral first then 1st gear?

[mav1178]

When I read "Balky" I first thought of this...

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by mav1178

When I read "Balky" I first thought of this...

Your age is showing!

[ogrowup]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

HMMMMM then something is apparently expanding. Doubt it would be the shaft since heat has little impact on carbon fiber.
I am stumped.

This is too funny. I have a propensity for having things happen to cameras, cars and computers that no one has heard of before. I should be hired to torturous test products for manufacturers...
A friend of mine who does mods on Morgans thinks it's clutch related...
Time will tell...

[JEDI]

Have you checked motor and trans mounts? If one of these have excessive play it could have this effect. Sounds from your list of mods this would be next on the list and stockers will wear faster with the additions you've made. Maybe I missed something in the post regarding trans mounts , is there a carrier bearing worn out.

[mav1178]

Originally Posted by ogrowup

• this did not happen prior to the installation of the drive shaft

So... just out of curiosity, have you tried changing back to the OE driveshaft?

-alex