T5 Shifting Problem

Juggernaut · #1 (**permalink**) 01-29-2012, 04:44 PM

Once again I'm asking for some advice from the folks here on the forum. I have a 289 with a 1984 T5 tranny in my Cobra. I bought it as a rebuilt tranny and I have 6500 miles on it since the car was finished in 2008.

When I drive it and shift it normally all is well, no problems at all.

When I accelerate hard and go through the gears, it doesn't want to go into
5th., all other gears are fine. Sometimes I can play with it & it'll eventually go in but most of time it won't.

After it happens, I have to drive it easy with it in 4th. for a little while, then it'll go onto 5th. just fine. It doesn't do this all the time when get on it hard but I'd say 90% of the time it does. I did notice that sometimes it'll have a hard time going into reverse, but if I go forward a little & try it again, it'll go into reverse just fine. Don't know if the two issues are realted.

I'm considering adjusting the clutch a little (hydraulic clutch) but I'm leaning toward it being an internal problem with the tranny since it only acts up when I get on it hard.

So, can anybody help me out with this problem?

Thanks!

CHANMADD · #2 (**permalink**) 01-29-2012, 08:38 PM

Sounds like the clutch is not fully disengaging. Try adjusting the travel . Check the gearbox oil too, I prefer automatic transmission fluid , it does promote smoother shifting

Juggernaut · #3 (**permalink**) 01-30-2012, 09:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CHANMADD

Sounds like the clutch is not fully disengaging. Try adjusting the travel . Check the gearbox oil too, I prefer automatic transmission fluid , it does promote smoother shifting

I'll try adjusting the travel first, hopefully that'll take care of it. I am using automatic tranny fluid in it. I know I have a very small leak from where the speedo cable goes into the tranny, maybe the fluid is a little low too?

Thanks for the help, you guys are great!

Randy

jhv48 · #4 (**permalink**) 01-30-2012, 09:43 AM

Since you have a hyudraulic clutch and you say that the problem involves both fifth and reverse, it does sound like a clutch release problem.

One more thing to try is bleed the slave cylinder and replace with Wilwood hi temp brake fluid. Your fluid could be old (with perhaps a little water in it) and boiling when you go hard causing a weak release. Then, when things cool off, all is back to normal.

Clois Harlan · #5 (**permalink**) 01-30-2012, 09:55 AM

Hey Randy why don't you give a call to one of the techs at Lesters Gear on N. Lewis 918-836-3601. 5th and Reverse are on the same part of the cluster and there could be something with the syncro's. T5's are easy to repair if you are patient.

Clois

Rick Parker · #6 (**permalink**) 01-30-2012, 10:38 AM

Clois is correct. The 5th gear for a T5 has an aluminum shift fork that engages the sliding syncro hub for the gear. If there is some abnormal wear (there always is) it will become increasingly difficult to engage the gear. This is what you are experiencing. You'll need a new fork (cheap) and maybe a new blocker ring (syncro).

Juggernaut · #7 (**permalink**) 01-31-2012, 07:42 PM

Thanks for all the help guys. I now have a gameplan. I'll adjust the clutch, switch to Wilwood hi temp brake fluid and bleed the system first, if those things don't fix it, I'll call Lesters Gears like Clois suggested.

I'll let you know what I come up with.

Thanks again for the help.

Randy

Dwight · #8 (**permalink**) 01-31-2012, 08:14 PM

pull the shifter off and check the plastic cup that is on the end of the shifter handle before you do anything. If it's wore it will cause the problem you decribed.
I just repaired one with the problem you have.

Dwight

Juggernaut · #9 (**permalink**) 02-01-2012, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dwight

pull the shifter off and check the plastic cup that is on the end of the shifter handle before you do anything. If it's wore it will cause the problem you decribed.
I just repaired one with the problem you have.

Dwight

What kind of wear am I Looking for? I'll put that at the top of my list to check, hopefully I'll get time to check it tonight.

Thanks Dwight!

Clois Harlan · #10 (**permalink**) 02-01-2012, 10:16 AM

Hey Randy,

There is a nylon socket your shifter sits into and if that is worn too much it could cause the problems Dwight mentioned. On the tail shaft of your trans where your shifter sticks up there is a 6" rectangular cover that when you remove the six or sight bolts your shifter pulls out and you can see the shifting mechanisim (rod about 1" diameter that has the socket I mentioned on the end of it).

Good Luck.

Juggernaut · #11 (**permalink**) 02-01-2012, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clois Harlan

Hey Randy,

There is a nylon socket your shifter sits into and if that is worn too much it could cause the problems Dwight mentioned. On the tail shaft of your trans where your shifter sticks up there is a 6" rectangular cover that when you remove the six or sight bolts your shifter pulls out and you can see the shifting mechanisim (rod about 1" diameter that has the socket I mentioned on the end of it).

Good Luck.

I know where you mean, Clois. I removed the shifter cover back when I initially filled the tranny with fluid.

Thanks.

SNK BYT · #12 (**permalink**) 05-10-2012, 09:06 AM

Hi everyone, I need some help. My car started having similar problems going into reverse. I would grind it a bit but the transmission would work fine. The last time I drove my car (several months ago) i had a difficult time putting it into reverse so again it grinded a bit but I got the car in gear and backed it into my garage. The next time i tried putting the car into gear, no gear would engage. I know and feel that this is a clutch adjustment issue but have no clue where to start looking or how to. I did find the bleed valve and with my son's help, we bled the slave (i think) but that did not work. The clutch preasuure feels ok but the transmission will not engage in any gear. HELP! My direct email is listed here. Thanks for any and all responses......

Gaz64 · #13 (**permalink**) 05-10-2012, 01:23 PM

Can you select gear with the engine off?

boilerrat · #14 (**permalink**) 05-10-2012, 02:39 PM

I broke my fifth gear shift fork once while racing my buddies real Ford GT. Was at probably 120mph and about 1/2 mile behind when shifting into fifth. At the time it broke I had no idea and then getting back into Houston I needed to down shift for an exit. Shifter wouldn't move. I jerked and jerked and got it into fourth but that was all she wrote. 4th gear all the way home. Pulled it out and disassembled tranny. Found the fork broken and luckily it rested in pocket and didn't go round and round with the other bits. If you go this far into it you'll notice there is a stamped steel plate that holds the counter shaft centered somewhat. Under very hard acceleration the shaft will bend and push this plate out, fortunately these hotrods are light because these trannys are only good to about 330 lb. ft. of torque but thats with a heavy Mustang. I reckon what I'm getting at here is "they" make a billet plate that goes in place of the stamp steel plate that really strengthens these things up. I used Rosehill Performance near Houston.

Juggernaut · #15 (**permalink**) 08-06-2012, 08:11 PM

Man, I'm embarassed by forgeting to let you guys know about my tranny problem I had back in February. I checked the nylon socket and that was good, I decided to go ahead and adjust the clutch. Since then, way back in February, it's been fine, it'll go into fifth with no problems even when I get on it hard and even through this hot spell we've been having here in Oklahoma.

So, sorry for not responding much sooner, thanks to all for the help!