tranny questions

[matt24]

Any manual transmission experts on here? Last night I pulled out on the road, went to shift from 2nd to 3rd and wouldn't go, tried to shift back to 2nd, not happening, so I'm hung in neutral. I can't even force it into any gear. Got the tow home and I'm looking for some help. This is a 75 3/4 ton 4x4, 4 speed with the granny low.
Thanks in advance,
Matt

[James McClure]

Matt, first question, does stick just flop around like it's not connected to anything? If it's slopy problem is in trans. If you know how, pull the stick out and look at it. End should be kind of a half round and all edges smooth. If thats ok, problem is going to require disassembly. Next, if it feels connected, try to shift it with the engine off and just bump starter with coil disconnected so it don't start. If it goes into gear, how does the clutch pedal feel? Could be a clutch or clutch pedal linkage problem. Let us know, jim

[wheels67]

Losing all gears at once would indicate your clutch needs adjustment on the threaded rod underneath......or the clutch disc has retired for good. Probably need a new clutch.....bummer

[matt24]

The stick doesn't really "flop" it just moves around like any manual transmission that's in neutral. I'm wondering about the clutch linkage. It was sort of "jerry-rigged" together by the PO. He even told me the linkage might pop out at some point...and it has, I just had to slip it back together. Where it happened is where that threaded rod (which I'm pretty sure is threaded all the way out) meets that arm that comes out of the tranny...hope that's an accurate description, I don't really know the part names.

Probably be a couple days before I can do much to it...maybe try something quick but definitely no tearing into it till the weekend.

If anyone has any other ideas I'm definitely listening.
Thanks

[matt24]

Got the shifter out. It looks just fine. I'm about 95% it's not clutch related at this point...but I can't be 100%. I unbolted the top of the tranny and tried to pull it off to take a peak but it's like it's hung. Talked to a few folks that know alot more than me and they all seem to think the problem has got to be something in the top of the tranny...now if I could just get it off to look at it!!

Any ideas from this crowd would be much appreciated.

[matt24]

Also, does anyone have a pic of what I should see if I do get the top of the tranny off? I'm struggling to find anything on the www.
Thanks again.

[mooseknuckles]

Originally Posted by matt24

Also, does anyone have a pic of what I should see if I do get the top of the tranny off? I'm struggling to find anything on the www.
Thanks again.

you should see boobs, or a hairy chest...you don't want to know whats under the bottoms..stay away from tranny's lol.

[James McClure]

Matt, just did some research about the cover. I have an 84 manual, but not the unit repair manual. It's been 20 years since I had one of those appart so I'm a bit rusty. The book says to partially engage the reverse idler before trying to lift the cover. I do remember that. Also tip the cover off to the right as viewed from the back (tail) of the trans. When you put it back togther hold the idler in position with wheel bearing grease. I strongly believe the problem you face not to be in the trans but is clutch related. If you want, e-mail me at jmcclur2@nycap.rr.com with your phone number and I'll call you and discuss this in greater depth than we can get into here. Jim

[matt24]

Originally Posted by James McClure

Matt, just did some research about the cover. I have an 84 manual, but not the unit repair manual. It's been 20 years since I had one of those appart so I'm a bit rusty. The book says to partially engage the reverse idler before trying to lift the cover. I do remember that. Also tip the cover off to the right as viewed from the back (tail) of the trans. When you put it back togther hold the idler in position with wheel bearing grease. I strongly believe the problem you face not to be in the trans but is clutch related. If you want, e-mail me at jmcclur2@nycap.rr.com with your phone number and I'll call you and discuss this in greater depth than we can get into here. Jim

I appreciate the good advice. BUT I'm back in business. Happen to work with a guy who was a pretty big help...and more by accident than anything it's working again. He was mostly at a loss, he'd never seen or even heard of my exact situation happening, and he'd worked on these trucks alot, when he was in the service. He'd seen em stuck in gear but never in neutral. Anyway, I explained to him where I was at and like I said he was at a loss and just suggested putting it back together, see what happens and if nothing frees up drain the trans, take those panels off the side and see if I could notice anything broke. Well I got the "put it back together" done and wala shifted right thru the gears. Got to explaining what happened to him and best he could figure (and it makes sense to me) was that one of the forks got into a bind somehow (behind a gear/schyro whatever) and it wouldn't slide on the shaft. By unbolting the top of the trans, lifting it and setting it back down it freed up that bind and everything fell back into place. Actually had a buddy I talked to over the weekend have the same thing happen alot of years ago...said it was just a weird deal. Anyways it's back to normal and I thanks for the tips and advice I got here.