1st gear Grinding?!?!?

[TurboLaserAWD9]

Alright here's the story so far.... I haven't got my license yet but I bought a DSM off my brother who never drove it and I got it cheap. Needed a few things to be done. Transmission, Clutch, CV joints, Power Steering problems. But anyway, I had a tranny located plus I purchased an ACT 2100 pound clutch. (I figured any higher wouldn't have been good for a new driver. I had someone around here who knows the DSM put both clutch and tranny in and I drove it home. That was mid to end of August now it being January I get in my car to start it up because I still don't have my License and I can't seem to get it into first great. Only once every 30 tries probably. All the others but first work fine. Alright so I've taken it for the occasional spin around the block or highway. But I have bled the clutch and are not sure if I just need to break it in and put some miles on it but I don't see how that would help if it doesn't go into gear. I have read up that an ACT does take 300 to 500 miles to get worked in nice. So I guess the question is: Is someone laughing at me right now cause they made $345 on a used shit tranny cause they sold it to someone at the time knew nothing about it???
Help me out, I think I am in need.
Thanks for anything, Brandon

 

[dynatos]

TurboLaserAWD9

How is your clutch engagement play? should be about 1/8th from the floor.

How do your clutch line look?

Can you get into any other gears? 3rd? 5th or reverse?

The person that installed your ACT2100, did they step the flywheel? (0.610" +/- 0.002")

Did he need to shim the pivot ball on the shift fork?

Just some things to eliminate some possibilities for ya!

 

[purplehazetsi]

he said all other gears but 1st go in smoothly. Brandon, try going from 2nd, then to first. If that allows you to go into first gear easier, than it could mean ur syncros are starting to go. I had that same damn problem, if i cam to a stop, i would have to put it in 2nd then first. It was a pain. Good Luck

 

[dynatos]

When the 1st/2nd syncro starts to go, doesn't it affect 1st to 2nd shifting first?

 

[Defiant]

Originally posted by dynatos
When the 1st/2nd syncro starts to go, doesn't it affect 1st to 2nd shifting first?

No, that'd just be the 2nd gear synchro. There is no "1st/2nd" synchro, they're on their specific gears.

 

[GForce]

My Eclipse always shifted fine but when I came to a stop it was almost impossible to get it into 1st, until a friend at the local speed shop told me to try putting it in second first. Worked fine after that.