Tranny Question....1st and 2nd shift into nothingness

[mplstercel]

I'm curious. And I don't know if my curiousity will make me take out the tranny and open it up to see what happened.,,,,?
Here is what happened. Over the course of driving the 4WD 1986 wagon (manual stick) I started to have more frequent pop outs from 1st gear. The second year during winter...1st gear disappeared (meaning I would shift into the space of 1st gear and it wasn't there. Later- 2nd gear started having the slip out/pop outs of gear and then all at once both 1st and 2nd gear disappeared. I could place the shift lever into 1st or 2nd ...in gear or not... and it was if it was not even there.
Here is the question. Could it be a simple pin that has come loose from the shifting forks and all it would need is for it to be reset and pressed back into place?
I drove this car the remainder of this past winter in extra low 4wd to start and then eased it into 3rd gear. I only really had to avoid start ups on steep hilly areas. Otherwise ....I could manage for the remaining month or so of winter.
Any thoughts anybody?
I've had another tranny open to reset and inspect a different problem, so this is why I am curious as to the shifting falling into a 'blank zone' and what the problem is? Hmmmm? BRV

[Tercel__jon]

I had somewhat the same problem last year. I lost 3rd and 4th gear randomly at the same time. I believe I broke one of the little pins that connects everything together. I drove it to the gas station one day and left it in neutral when I got out. Got back in, started it up, let off the clutch and it moved. I think something inside shifted when i stopped and it got stuck in 3rd or 4th. Didnt have the patience to take it apart...so I found another one and swapped it in. Ill take it apart eventually when I have the space to do so.

[Petros]

Welcome to the list!

I was once driving along a noisy trans, and just shifted normal into 2nd gear...and would not come out. No matter how hard I pulled on it. I drove 40 miles home in 2nd gear (annoyingly slow on the hwy!). drained the trans oil and found it full of metal shavings. I replaced the whole trans when I found another one, did not bother to take it apart, likely something broke off and got ground up in the gears.

Sounds like your trans is also on the last leg of life. There is a shift detent that can wear, but if it pops out of gear it is more likely the actual gear teeth are worn to the point they will not stay engaged. Likely your trans has just about had it.