Tuff to going to gear - New clutch install

[Peepers]

Hey guys, got an issue I'd like to solve.
I recently put in a new CF DF clutch along with an ACT XACT Streetlight flywheel. The flywheel was properly stepped and double checked by Magnus to ensure it was correct.

I also installed all new supporting parts (OEM throw out bearing, new OEM slave cylinder, new OEM flywheel hardware, new OEM fork, clip and pivot ball). The clutch master cylinder is only a year old. Once everything was put back together I filled the tranny up with new BG SyncroShift and bleed the system properly (I think) – clutch releases fine from what I can tell – ¼ from the floor.

I also did the skateboard bearing mod and installed some urethane shifter plate bushings. While I had the tranny out I also changed out all motor mounts to be prothane & tranny mounts to have the prothane inserts.

Now, I'm have issues putting the car into gear just after starting and/or going from neutral (say at a traffic light) then pressing the clutch to go into first. Most of the time I have to put it into second (or another gear) and/or reverse and then it will find first. From there, it changes gears fine until I put it into neutral and this will start all over again. It's almost as if something not quite lining up and with a little persuasion it lines up fine.

I've past the break-in period for the clutch and now I’m trying to sort this issue out

Any ideas?

Ohh yeah, before I did the clutch install, everything was fine with the tranny function

Thanks in advance!!
Peepers

 

[JackM]

Sounds like your clutch is dragging. Try this, but be careful:


1) Have the car running with the e-brake off so it can roll.
2) Push the clutch pedal all the way to the floor and hold it there.
3) Turn off your launch limiter in DSM link so the engine can hit 7K RPM.
4) Put the car into 1st gear.
5) Rev the engine up until you feel the car start to move forward.

If the car moves forward below 7200RPM, your clutch is dragging. DO NOT DRIVE UNTIL THE PROBLEM IS FIXED! Unit will also be hard to shift.

Jack

 

[Peepers]

JackM, I did what you said and the car didn't move so it appears I'm suffering from a "dragging clutch"
While driving, the car changes gears just fine. It's only when I first try to select a gear on start up and/or go from neturel then press the clutch to try to find a first gear (car not moving) I'm having issues. I need to find other gears to make things line up.

Any other ideas?

FYI – I just re-bleed the clutch (didn't notice any air bubbles coming from the system). I also removed the skateboard bearings as I thought that these might be the cause of my issues?
Peepers

 

[Pro3racer]

Your clutch is not dragging, your car didn't move at all while holding the clutch "in".

 

[outlawdsm]

Correct, if the car didn't move forward it is not the clutch. The 1st gear synchro blocker ring is under the most stress out of all of the synchros in the trans. It not only is a single synchro (from the factory) but the lower you go in the gears, the harder the rings have to work it speed up or slow down the input shaft, so they become more sensitive to fluid or clutch issues. I would say it is your fluid and try that next. BG fluid is absolutely awful! It wears thrust surfaces in the trans quickly, kills bearings, and can wipe out the blocker rings quicker. I would try something different like redline MTL or mobil 1 synth gear oil. If that doesn't work, then you may have a wiped out friction surface on the synchro blocker ring preventing it from moving the oil out of the way for it to work properly. That is rare, but I have seen it happen to trannies running fluid like BG.

Jack

 

[Dream On]

Have you tried adjusting the clutch pedal at the master cylinder? I would try that out.