R154 hard shifting

[Chaingun]

I've got a bit of an issue with my r154, i think i know the answer but I'd like to get the opinion of some more knowledgeable than me about the transmission. I've already replaced the clutch hard lines, and soft line, as well as bled it per the TSRM, and flushed and refilled it with the correct GL5 fluid. All this was needed due to the poor maintenance done on the car previously. My issue is that when cold, and sometimes when warm the car is hard to shift into 2nd 3rd, and sometimes reverse. Is this a synchronizer issue or should i be looking elsewhere?

 

[IBoughtASupra]

What is the condition of your clutch plate?

 

[Chaingun]

clutch looks and feels very good, so slipping, and it does fully disengage when the pedal is pressed

 

[SupraMario]

Is this down shifting at speed or upshifting?

AKA slowing down and going into second from third or 4th into third?

 

[Chaingun]

Little of both actually, i know that 1st gear has a speed lockout, but i'm still learning about these transmissions. Also the white bushing at the bottom of the shifter, should it be smooth, mine feels like there is a slight groove in the center

 

[roadboy]

mine isnt that worse, when cold, it can barely go into first and second,and reverse untill it actually warms up it shifts smooth

 

[Chaingun]

yeah i noticed that when mines been run for a bit it does shift much better, it's just that hard shift until then that really bothers me, i'm worried that it's causing damage to the tranny that will cause it to need a rebuild sooner than i can afford

 

[hvyman]

Reverse is straight cut gears with no syncro. Not like shifting in to all the other gears. Try 3rd or 4th then to reverse. If that doesnt work, let it go of the clutch, push in and then go reverse.

Whats the fluid condition?
You sure the system is bleed all the way?

 

[Chaingun]

positive it's bled all the way, clutch release is quick and responsive, and not mushy at all, the fluid is fresh, i just drained it, flushed it by dumping a quart through then filled it again, double clutching to go to reverse seems to be working though, i didn't know that it did not have a synchro

 

[SupraSean]

What Fluid are your using,,, i Didn't believe it until i used it,,,but Pennzoil Synchromesh works miracles

 

[Chaingun]

I can't remember tbh I wanna say coastal but I didn't even consider synchromesh because I thought it was formulated for gm vehicles, I plan on flushing again when i replace the rear seal on the transmission and the shifter bushing, if it won't eat away the transmission I'll give it a try then, any thought on adding some lucas to the transmission too?

 

[Poodles]

What Fluid are your using,,, i Didn't believe it until i used it,,,but Pennzoil Synchromesh works miracles

Syncromesh is FAR too thin for an R154. Don't use it.

I can't remember tbh I wanna say coastal but I didn't even consider synchromesh because I thought it was formulated for gm vehicles, I plan on flushing again when i replace the rear seal on the transmission and the shifter bushing, if it won't eat away the transmission I'll give it a try then, any thought on adding some lucas to the transmission too?

Most GL5 gear oils have friction modifiers for use in clutch based limited slip differentials. This friction modifier hinders the function of the syncros. Red Line MT-90 is specificly made for older style transmissions like our own.

I've tried normal gear oil, Royal Purple Max Gear, Royal Purple Syncromax (it's their version of syncromesh), and Red Line MT-90. I had issues getting into 2nd with normal gear oil, so tried the RP Max Gear and it started to shift a bit smoother at first but quickly got harder to shift (more than likely the effect of the detergent agents in the oil). Tried the Syncromax and the tranny just got overall noisy and shifted for shit. Went to the Red Line and the 2nd gear grind all but disappeared in short order.

I looked up the Coastal oil and it doesn't look like it contains friction modifier (as it says it's only for top off of limited slip diffs), but I can't be sure.

 

[Chaingun]

Thanks i definitely did not know that there was that much to picking your gear oil. I had the parts guy pick mine out, it was Coastal, and he uses it his 3000gt. It works much better now when warm, but i'll give the MT-90 a try when i replace that seal

 

[arknotts]

Reverse may be hard to shift into even if the rest of the transmission is in good condition (i.e. it may be it's own issue). This could happen if previous owners grinded reverse all of the time shaving down the teeth on the gear. The easiest way I use to get into reverse is to put it in first and let the clutch up just enough to move the car a few inches, and while it's rolling put pressure on reverse. This should allow the teeth to line up, and as long as you aren't going too fast it shouldn't grind.

 

[modmonster2008]

i too use Coastal i believe its 75w-90 gear oil, i have yet to use redline mt-90 when the time comes around.

 

[Poodles]

Reverse may be hard to shift into even if the rest of the transmission is in good condition (i.e. it may be it's own issue). This could happen if previous owners grinded reverse all of the time shaving down the teeth on the gear. The easiest way I use to get into reverse is to put it in first and let the clutch up just enough to move the car a few inches, and while it's rolling put pressure on reverse. This should allow the teeth to line up, and as long as you aren't going too fast it shouldn't grind.

Even a brand new tranny will have issues with reverse. It's even covered in the owner's manual. It's simple, push the clutch in, wait 3 seconds, try reverse. If it doesn't go in, go back to neutral and then try the process again. You're simply waiting for the gear pack to stop spinning.

 

[Chaingun]

Even a brand new tranny will have issues with reverse. It's even covered in the owner's manual. It's simple, push the clutch in, wait 3 seconds, try reverse. If it doesn't go in, go back to neutral and then try the process again. You're simply waiting for the gear pack to stop spinning.

Yeah just like any car mine has it's quirks, i've figured out that 2nd and 3rd will grind a bit no matter how long the car warms up, but after 2 to 3 minutes of driving it's shifts beautiful now

 

[abdc916]

I was having a rough time shifting too. I took off my shifter and figured I'd start there before I did anything else. It turned out that whoever owned it before me apparently forgot about shifter bushings. The end cap was there but the bottom bushing was AWOL. This missing bushing caused the metal plate to mushroom. Anyways, I replaced the shifter and put in the missing bushing. Problem solved. It shifts like a dream now. Hopefully your fix is as simple as mine was.

 

[Chaingun]

The bushing is on my list of parts to get in, i ordered one from the dealer before i realized driftmotion stocked them so i paid more than i should have

 

[arknotts]

Even a brand new tranny will have issues with reverse. It's even covered in the owner's manual. It's simple, push the clutch in, wait 3 seconds, try reverse. If it doesn't go in, go back to neutral and then try the process again. You're simply waiting for the gear pack to stop spinning.

Agreed. However, I will have to try 2,3, even 4 iterations of the above process sometimes before mine will drop into reverse when cold. Multiply this by the "3 second wait" (or put it into a forward gear first) and this quickly adds up. If I have room I simply bump it forward a couple of inches and try again...