Wont go into 2nd at WOT - What did I break?

[Clinical]

So ever since I got my car, it has always grinded going into 2nd at WOT.

I've been at the track twice and each time slammed it through the grinds into 2nd knowing eventually I'd break it and fix it.

This last time I ran it back to back running 12.7's over and over and on my last run I thought I had just missed the shift but then realize I messed something up.

The car will 80% of the time while driving around go into 2nd gear just fine.
I can also downshift into second fine if I double-clutch it.

However if I launch or go WOT from 1st-2nd it simply will just grind and not go into 2nd at all.

So I'm wondering, have I broken my shift fork/synchros/etc.

I'm probably going to get everything new for 2nd gear but would just like some insight as to what people may think the sole problem may be.

The car is perfectly fine in 1st 3rd 4th 5th reverse. Shifts great and smooth into all of those gears. Most of the time when just driving around it'll go into second just fine like normal. I can start in 2nd and go WOT without an issue and drive around in 2nd all day. doesn't pop out or anything.

Thanks for any insight

 

[MIdsm]

The biggest problem seems to be the driving technique. A good driver has to be sympathetic to equipment and understand how it works and what it can and cannot do. You should at least give the synchros a chance to do their job. Even guys running dog boxes that can take WOT shifts and need a ham fist have different strategies to limit damage and drive line torque oscillations. Paddle shift cars make perfect engine/tranny speed synchronisation and possibly slip the clutches or play with ignition timing to minimize torque spikes through the driveline. If you want to shift at WOT at least get a NLTS/secondary (lower) rev limiter that gets activated when you push on the clutch and a lighter flywheel.

 

[Clinical]

Well it's obvious i've had tranny issues with second. No matter how slow/easy I try to get it into second it would grind.

I've driven other DSM's and I had no issue at all.
I'm just trying to figure out what I've actually broken.

 

[SBstar]

Sounds like you started out with worn syncroes. You've just worn them further, eventually they're going to be bad enough where they're not going to allow shifts at higher rpms.

 

[92_6bolt_1290]

Sounds like you started out with worn syncroes. You've just worn them further, eventually they're going to be bad enough where they're not going to allow shifts at higher rpms.

I'm going to second the syncros...they do exactly what it sounds like they do, and if you try to force your car into gear when the syncros aren't mating right then the crap starts hitting the fan. try draining the fluid and looking for tiny brass colored metal shavings and if you happen to see any then that means that you've been tearing your syncros up.

 

[BLINKY619]

i had a similar problem but it ended up being my clutch witch when i pulled it out it came out in 5 pieces...!!!

 

[92EagleAWD]

x3 for syncros, i have a full set of syncros 1st-5th gear if you wanna buy em

 

[Clinical]

Thanks but I've already got them ordered

I figured it was the shift fork or synchros but I'll be replacing both. Just wanted to double check and see if I could figure out for sure.

I knew it'd need done eventually. Was hoping to make it till winter but oh well.

 

[SBstar]

Only other thought is to check your clutch adjustment, but I'm 99.9% sure it's syncroes.

 

[red1993gsallmt]

what kind of clutch do you have

 

[dented_coffee]

could be a bent clutch fork as well. my old transmission had the same problem and it was having engaudgment problems from the 2-3 fork.

 

[beihl304]

i had a similar problem but it wouldnt go into 4th it would just grind at any speed.. it ended up being the shift fork

 

[SBstar]

Also another good check is your shift cables. I just found mine to be bad which is why my car wasn't going into 2nd gear at WOT. (searching is how I found this thread btw)

However, I'm dealing with a freshly rebuilt trans that I knew didn't have any issues.

 

[KadieTSi]

Shift fork or synchros for sure

 

[Clinical]

This transmission was also rebuilt roughly 7-8k ago..
I got the car with about 3k on the tranny and from the day I got it, it has grinded second.

My clutch pedal does go all the way to the floor however it feels like the engagement is all correct.

 

[dented_coffee]

8k ago. if it was grinding when you were driving it sounds like it was a crap rebuild in my own opinion. it was grinding inbetween 1st and 2nd and you were slamming it into second even thow there was a knoticable problem. it probably bent the fork.

if the fork is bent or broken the car will not go from 1st to 2nd gear at all.

as for the pedal situation it sounds like they need a good bleeding or the clutch pushrod or the clutch pivot ball is wore out.