Shifting Malfunction
Posted: Thu Oct 02, 2014 9:51 pm
BACKGROUND:
So back at the beginning of August, Colin and I installed a rebuilt transaxle into my bus. I haven't had the time to really wrap my head around the inner workings of transaxles, but it never seemed quite right. There was always a bit of a "soft wall" when shifting into first and the shift lever kept popping out of gear, particularly first and third, occasionally fourth. I adjusted the stop plate and was able to eliminate the popping out of third and fourth, but never first. I called up my rebuild guy and arranged to have him drive it. He agreed to replace 1st gear with a new gear even though it had passed inspection during the rebuild.
After reinstalling the transaxle, the "wall" to first gear still existing but there wasn't any popping out of any of the gears. Progress.
Yesterday, my son (who has been driving the bus to school lately) informed me that he couldn't get it into first gear and had to start from second gear in order to get home. Fortunately, I was already taking today off of work so I took it out for an extended drive, experimenting and trying to unlock this mystery of no first gear.
SYMPTOMS:
The "wall" to first still exists, but as before, you can push through it and get the same feel of shifting into first as before. Upon releasing he clutch however, first gear grinds.
A simultaneous issue arose that my son hadn't discovered. I can shift into reverse just fine, but when letting out the clutch, it is noticeably rougher than before. And then when trying to shift out of reverse, it's very difficult to disengage, requiring an inappropriate amount of force (and explitives).
ACTIONS SO FAR:
One of the things I felt was off previously during my reinstall was the fore/aft position of the engine/transaxle combo. The forward edge of the forks at the forward transaxle mount/limiting stop were flush with the forward edge of the limiting stop block. Previously, they extended 1/2 - 3/4 inch further forward of the limiting stop. Hoping it might have an impact on this issue, I loosened the two bolts holding the limiting stop, the two on the transaxle carrier, and the four on the engine bearer. I jacked the engine/transaxle up a bit to take the load off and wiggled the engine forward until it match the prior installation position and tightened everything up. Not unsurprising, but no change. Still grinding in 1st gear upon clutch release and reverse is still a bear to disengage.
I have a phone call into the rebuild guy for his feedback, but thought I'd check with the IAC crowd to help isolate the source of this problem.
Off to do some research. Thanks in advance for any insight and guidance you can offer.
So back at the beginning of August, Colin and I installed a rebuilt transaxle into my bus. I haven't had the time to really wrap my head around the inner workings of transaxles, but it never seemed quite right. There was always a bit of a "soft wall" when shifting into first and the shift lever kept popping out of gear, particularly first and third, occasionally fourth. I adjusted the stop plate and was able to eliminate the popping out of third and fourth, but never first. I called up my rebuild guy and arranged to have him drive it. He agreed to replace 1st gear with a new gear even though it had passed inspection during the rebuild.
After reinstalling the transaxle, the "wall" to first gear still existing but there wasn't any popping out of any of the gears. Progress.
Yesterday, my son (who has been driving the bus to school lately) informed me that he couldn't get it into first gear and had to start from second gear in order to get home. Fortunately, I was already taking today off of work so I took it out for an extended drive, experimenting and trying to unlock this mystery of no first gear.
SYMPTOMS:
The "wall" to first still exists, but as before, you can push through it and get the same feel of shifting into first as before. Upon releasing he clutch however, first gear grinds.
A simultaneous issue arose that my son hadn't discovered. I can shift into reverse just fine, but when letting out the clutch, it is noticeably rougher than before. And then when trying to shift out of reverse, it's very difficult to disengage, requiring an inappropriate amount of force (and explitives).
ACTIONS SO FAR:
One of the things I felt was off previously during my reinstall was the fore/aft position of the engine/transaxle combo. The forward edge of the forks at the forward transaxle mount/limiting stop were flush with the forward edge of the limiting stop block. Previously, they extended 1/2 - 3/4 inch further forward of the limiting stop. Hoping it might have an impact on this issue, I loosened the two bolts holding the limiting stop, the two on the transaxle carrier, and the four on the engine bearer. I jacked the engine/transaxle up a bit to take the load off and wiggled the engine forward until it match the prior installation position and tightened everything up. Not unsurprising, but no change. Still grinding in 1st gear upon clutch release and reverse is still a bear to disengage.
I have a phone call into the rebuild guy for his feedback, but thought I'd check with the IAC crowd to help isolate the source of this problem.
Off to do some research. Thanks in advance for any insight and guidance you can offer.