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So I've just finished installing my engine and transmission into my 77 and found out I have no first or second. I have reverse, third, and fourth. All the linkages are hooked up and I can see the arm on the transmission moving. From the shifter, I don't feel the click of first or second engaging, but I do for the rest. Any idea what would cause this?
Borg or Muncie? Did you remove the side plate from the trans or the shift arm from the side plate? I would take the rod from shifter to shift fork off and work the arm back and forth by hand. And watch the shaft the arm is attached to to see if it is turning.
Borg or Muncie? Did you remove the side plate from the trans or the shift arm from the side plate? I would take the rod from shifter to shift fork off and work the arm back and forth by hand. And watch the shaft the arm is attached to to see if it is turning.
I believe it's a Borg Warner t10. I did remove the side plate to put some more oil in it when I had it out, but the thing about that is that I had second gear just yesterday. And that's after everything had been put back in. It just up and stopped, I had no first and had a second and now I don't have either.
Did it work before you pulled it? if so double check the arm is correctly on the square of the shift shaft.
Yes, it worked before I pulled it. Not exactly sure what you mean by "shift shaft." Is that the part sticking out of the side panel on the transmission or something up underneath the shifter?
do not start the car again. https://www.ebay.com/itm/33404897349...oAAOSwYrtg0SO4 don't buy it. just look at the pics. https://www.ebay.com/itm/11215097560...AAAOSw4shX6xSU ok, the shift shaft is sticking out the side in first pic. you see the way it has flats on both sides of each shaft? these slots fit on the flats. right below the 1-2 and 3-4. https://www.ebay.com/itm/12476512962...kAAOSwAxtgGZ7C if not on far enough, the shaft won't move and make the detents click or move the shift forks. (middle ebay link.) if you missed the slot in the shift collar in the trans, you could have already shifted it into 1st or 2nd. if so and you put it in 3-4 or reverse and let out the clutch, tranny will blow all the teeth off of the input or cluster gear. this is unlikely as you don't feel the detents, but we can't let you destroy the trans cuz it is unlikely. MOST likely is the shift arm is not on the flat on the 1-2 arm and once you get it centered and bolted down you will most likely be good to go. there is an interlock in the shifter and another in the side plate to stop the trans from going into 2 gears at once. but if that fork is not in the shift collar you have defeated both those 2 interlocks. https://www.ebay.com/itm/13369899692...AAAOSwFsNgVSd4 you can see the slots the 2 arms go in on this pic. and this trans is in 2nd and 3rd in that oic. but since there is no rest of trans attached, ain't such an issue.
Last edited by derekderek; Jul 1, 2021 at 09:39 PM.
do not start the car again. https://www.ebay.com/itm/33404897349...oAAOSwYrtg0SO4 don't buy it. just look at the pics. https://www.ebay.com/itm/11215097560...AAAOSw4shX6xSU ok, the shift shaft is sticking out the side in first pic. you see the way it has flats on both sides of each shaft? these slots fit on the flats. right below the 1-2 and 3-4. https://www.ebay.com/itm/12476512962...kAAOSwAxtgGZ7C if not on far enough, the shaft won't move and make the detents click or move the shift forks. (middle ebay link.) if you missed the slot in the shift collar in the trans, you could have already shifted it into 1st or 2nd. if so and you put it in 3-4 or reverse and let out the clutch, tranny will blow all the teeth off of the input or cluster gear. this is unlikely as you don't feel the detents, but we can't let you destroy the trans cuz it is unlikely. MOST likely is the shift arm is not on the flat on the 1-2 arm and once you get it centered and bolted down you will most likely be good to go. there is an interlock in the shifter and another in the side plate to stop the trans from going into 2 gears at once. but if that fork is not in the shift collar you have defeated both those 2 interlocks. https://www.ebay.com/itm/13369899692...AAAOSwFsNgVSd4 you can see the slots the 2 arms go in on this pic. and this trans is in 2nd and 3rd in that oic. but since there is no rest of trans attached, ain't such an issue.
I'd say your guess of the arm not being flat is the best guess, since I have since started the vehicle and still have a transmission . It feels tight to me, but I'll take it back off and try to line it up again when I get home... Hope it's that simple 🤞
What else did you do while you had the trans out? Did you remove the shifter or do anything with it? Here is how you should setup the shifter linkage but you need to make a special tool to hold the shifter in place while you adjust the rods. If you don't hold it in place just being out of alignment a little will cause hard shifting or not being able to get it in gear. This is for a '71 so YMMV.
Special tool:
Adjustment procedure:
And if your trans has two holes in the trans levers and want a shorter throw adjust your rods to these holes.
What else did you do while you had the trans out? Did you remove the shifter or do anything with it?
I did take the side panel off to put new oil in the trans since the plugs were FUBAR'd (last owner had pretty much turn them into circles!) That of course meant that those two forks were removed, but I made sure they went back in at the exact way they came out. I also turned both of those shift shafts with a wrench and spun the input shaft by hand to make sure everything was installed correctly. Did not touch the shifter while the transmission was out of the car. Maybe I bumped it going back in? From the looks of it though, everything seems to be right in regards to the shifter and its mount.
Most likely the shifter is jacked up.......the gate for one and two may not be engaging for whatever reason.......
Easy enough to check but you will need a helper.......have someone run through the gears while you lay under and verify shift rod movement. You will know right away whether it is or not.....could be a loose ear too.....get under there and look.
Problem solved, and I feel about as sharp as a rubber ball . The problem was that the linkage was just off the shift shaft, but that was enough to keep it from going into gear. Thank all y'all for the input,!
If you didn't mess with the shifter and after you hooked it back up and it was a "little off" I think you should consider rebuilding your shifter. The GM units wear out over time and there is a good bet your's has never been messed with. You might run into problems in the future. Rebuilding it is easy all except for removal and installation since your trans is back in but it can be done.
4-spd | No first or second gear
. It feels tight to me, but I'll take it back off and try to line it up again when I get home... Hope it's that simple 🤞
. The problem was that the linkage was just off the shift shaft, but that was enough to keep it from going into gear. Thank all y'all for the input,!