5th gear problem

[xirdneh]

I was cruising at 50 MPH
Everything was fine
Then the Tercel was out of gear
It happened quietly
There were no warning signs
Everything had been fine, now it wasn't
I tried to put it back into 5th gear
It would go into gear but it would not stay in gear
I tried holding it in gear but it fought back and won
I could feel the pulsing telegraph thru the shifter as the gear found its way free
What the hell happened?

[dlb]

i think i remember someone saying that 5th gear is easy to access without disassembling the rest of the trans so you might be able to just replace the one gear and its synchros without too much trouble. that's totally hopeful speculation though.

[c_j]

Yep, 5th gear is outside of the transmission case poking into the front differential area, but I'm not sure if that's where the 5th gear shifting happens.

[Petros]

sounds like the fifth gear has given up the ghost. could be a linkage issue, but that seems unlikly. I will be likely be hauling some very used transmissions up from California, you are welcome to one of them if you want it for parts.

[xirdneh]

Took the tranny out today (tranny only, left bell housing/differential in)
the two 5th gear detent springs had broken
found two detents on bottom of bell/diff assy right below where fifth gear would sit
the third one had worked its way back into the tranny and i fished it out with a magnet on a stick
the pieces of the two springs were in both places too
also found a ball bearing (abt 3/16" dia) stuck to one of the bottom (magnetic) drain plugs
the detents looked normal
will have to pull fifth gear and try to fix this
i have some detent springs

[xirdneh]

Whoops, after the last post I got to thinking about what another member posted a while back
sure enough, after checking the fifth gear again
it turns out the "C" clip retainer had popped off
though I have not removed the fifth gear assy i am guessing
the groove in the shaft for the "C" clip may be messed up like the other member's was
that will mean tearing the whole tranny apart and replacing the shaft
we shall see?

[dlb]

i'm trying to visualize what you're describing. could you modify the groove in the shaft and use a different c-clip?

[xirdneh]

not sure yet as i have not removed the parts
also notices today that the gear on the main shaft that 5th gear drives is loose
moves back and forth about 1/32"
thinking maybe the pressed on sleeve at end of this shaft has moved or the side of the gear is worn
talked to guy at local tranny shop
says pulling my small trailer probably did it
said i never should have gone past 4th gear while hauling

[xirdneh]

more on 5th gear
this tranny will need a different main shaft due to movement of gear
the 5th gear teeth on both main shaft and counter shaft gears have bad wear patterns
i will take the tranny apart and save the good stuff, adding to my growing tranny parts collection

[Gottolovem]

sounds like the fifth gear has given up the ghost. could be a linkage issue, but that seems unlikly. I will be likely be hauling some very used transmissions up from California, you are welcome to one of them if you want it for parts.

Petros if you are going through Reno to pickup those trannys I can add at least 4 more to the pile a long block with low compression and many more goodies for free if interested.

[Petros]

I am back home, and that would have been too far out of the way, and we were already full up with "spare" parts.

we are contemplating a road trip from the east coast through the southern states next month, not sure how we will be returning home, not likely planning to go through Reno however.

[rer233]

East coast-huh? What part of the east coast?

[Petros]

we have ten days we have to be out of our house in mid November (major repairs going on), so we thought we would fly somewhere, buy a car and drive it west and go sight seeing along the way. Than sell the car when we get home.

because of the time of year we were going to take the southern route: We thought of flying into Savannah and drive west to New Orleans, than back northwest toward home, or head to California and than North. Any suggestions on where we could go? We are still open.

Any forum members along the way that we could drop-in and say hello to?

[irowiki]

Edit: replied to your other thread.