New install. Stuck in 1st gear. Help?

[LV-DSM]

Here's the situation. 1g. FWD. New engine, old trans (worked fine before), new clutch disk, plate, TOB, and flywheel. Bled the clutch, feels great. Installed shifter cables and cannot get into any other gear but 1st and neutral. When in nuetral, shifter could not wiggle left or right, but you could tell that 1st had disengaged. I removed the cables from the select lever and shift lever at the tranny. Shift lever movement is fine, but select lever will only enter 2 of 3 possible possitions. Forward (towards radiator) and middle. It will not move backwards allowing the shift lever to rise.

What could have happened? Should I have been in a specific gear before installing the trans? Is it possible that the clutch fork slipped off of the pivot ball or is it something else? I really don't want to remove the tranny again to troubleshoot.... Sucks to do by yourself.

Need some advice please. TIA

 

[JackM]

How long was the trans sitting? I have seen some units come in here that were sitting for years and the shift rails rusted to the point where they couldn't move anymore.

Jack

 

[LV-DSM]

It did sit for almost 4 years, but it was completely sealed, with axles installed. The fluid had been removed though.

 

[JackM]

I'd be willing to bet there is a lot of rust in there...

Jack

 

[LV-DSM]

Being that I know nothing about reapiring transmissions, do you think I should attempt to fix this myself or just replace/repair the transmission? Thanks for your help.

 

[outlawdsm]

It's hard to say. I'd probably open it up and look in there to see what condition it is in. If the gears are full of rust too, then you might have to find another trans. Replacing all or most of the gears in the trans can add up to a lot of money. If you open it up, get afraid of it, and want someone else to build it I'd be more than happy to

Jack

 

[LV-DSM]

Guess I'll dig into it tomorrow and see what's going on inside. I'll get back to you on the rebuild. Thanks again.

~Tim

 

[90gsx16g]

I'm having the same issue right now. Keep us updated

 

[LV-DSM]

I cracked open the case and found more than I bargained for. I saw no visible problems, so I took it to a local transmission shop. Jack was right. A fair amount of ruct had developed locking the shift rails in place. I had them replaced along with anything else that showed signs of wear. Cost around $900. I could have picked up another used tranny for a few hundred, but decided to go fully rebuilt for piece of mind. Good luck.