3rd gear problem

[dracer398]

Hi all,

My transmission doesn't feel like it goes into 3rd gear all of the way. So far it's never popped out of gear but it don't feel like it goes in solid like the other gears and I want to fix it soon so it don't create bigger problems. Any ideas?

Brian

[Bigdog]

Brian - if you don't feel that "click" when the gear engages I'd check for a missing detent ball.

[cowboy]

Hi Brian

I just won a ebay on a 30" saw blade in flint. And hope to stop in Otis for some wheel weights. I still have you ph# but acidentally lost your directions. I do not know what day I'll be up that way but I'll let you know.

Billy

[dracer398]

BD,

It definately does not click but it also don't feel like it goes in all the way. Kind of "Spongy"

Billy,

I'm about 45 to 50 miles north of Flint. I can send you directions.

Brian

[Bill Blansett]

Brian, You may have a loose or well worn shifter which is not moving the shifter rail into the detent that Big Dog is referring to. You should place the shift lever in neutral and proceed to remove the tran top cover plate and have a look. Nothing in here is going to jump out at you. You can move the shifter rails back and forth to check for slop. Just be sure to put both back to neutral prior to reinstalling the cover. Let us know what you find. Bill

[dracer398]

Thanks Bill and BD!

I'm gonna investigate!

Brian

[Jim Becker]

Normally, I would put the transmission in neutral before taking the top cover off, but not in this case. Put it in third and take the cover off. You get to see if the lever is pushing it in all the way or not. Gives you a little more information to work with. Pop it back into neutral before reinstalling the lid. It goes together a little easier that way.

[Bill Blansett]

Jim, I like your idea about putting shifter in third gear better than my suggestion. John of Calico Rock and I were checking one of these and made the mistake of trying to move the rail with a hammer and punch applied to the fork slot. Wow! broke the lug right off. Those are hardened steel and are like glass when hit. Just some info on our mistake. Won't do that again. Bill

[meandmydeere]

My 1st thought is, pull the cover, move the shift rail with a screw driver forward. That will be 3rd gear. If it is "spongy", apply a little pressure for a minute. It may have gunk built up in the area where the rod slides forward and is hydraulic locking. Remove the fork and slide the rail back as far as it will go. look to see that the detent ball is in place and remove it. Then remove the spring. then clean out the gunk from inside the hole where the rail slides. Put a little grease in the hole, reinstall the spring and detent ball, then slide the rail back forward. You will have to depress the detent ball with a screw driver so the rail passes it and if you slip, the ball goes forward into the hole. That's what the grease if for. It catches the ball so you don't have to spend time trying to fish it out of the dead hole. If you find gunk in the rail holes, I would flush the transmission real good a few times to remove all the old 140 w tar that has built up over the years.
Mark