New clutch/tranny problems...
 

Just installed my new Beck/Arnley clutch (minus the pilot bearing) and tranny I got from pick n pull with 104K on the car I pulled it from, and Im having a grinding problem going from 1st to 2nd. It feels like there's a lot of play in my clutch pedal and as soon as I start releasing the pedal the clutch grabs right away. The only three things I can think of that could cause this is 1)Air in clutch cylinders or bad fluid(car was sitting for 5 months). 2)Bent or worn out clutch fork (I put my old one on the new tranny and it had more than 200K miles on it). 3)The tranny is bad. Other than the grinding part, it runs perfect and quiet in every gear. In neutral it will go into any gear with no problems and if I go from 1st to any other gear and then into 2nd it will not grind. Can anyone help me out? I only got until Feb. 3 to return the tranny if thats the problem. Thanks

Sounds like it could be synchros but possibly the clutch is not disengaging all the way. If clutch fluid has been bleed and no air, I say synchros. The second gear one is the first to go usually from what I hear.

yah, synchro's. i have the same prob. luckily i just picked up a low mileage GSL tranny today to hopefully solve the problem :)

So I should just take it off and return it?

Yep, return it man. Mine did the same thing in 2nd gear before a self destructed a couple weeks later.

adjust the clutch slave push rod. that may cure the problem.

Replace the gear oil with Amsoil 75W-90 synthetic and see if it helps.
That pretty much cured the skritchy 3rd gear synchro in my RX4.

Bad syncros? Huh? If the clutch grabs too soon, as he stated, why would that point to the syncros? Help me understand please, this is interesting.

I would be wondering if the clutch was properly aligned when installed, or if it got some grease on it. Other than that, bleed the system and make sure your slave cylinder is good. There may be some type of adjustment that I'm not aware of, it sounds like WackyRacer knows of one. I don't think I'd pull the tranny and return it yet though, that would be one of the last things on my list of possible causes. Good luck!

Everytime my slave cylinder started going out, the clutch pedal got that real mushy feel to it. I have used a transmission from a car that sat for a year or so and was almost impossible to get into 2nd or 3rd (I forget wich one) without brute force and some grinding. However, after awhile it got easier and easier to get into gear and now changes fine. Take it for what it's worth.

Thanks guys for all the feedback guys. Other than the grinding going into 2nd gear the tranny is very quiet and the car pulls very strong up to redline. With my old tranny after 5K rpm the car didnt seem to pull at all.

I spoke to mechanic today and he suggested I adjust the clutch pedal. I did notice a lot of play on it. He said it was a 12mm bolt on the pedal but not to adjust it too much and leave a little play on there. He also said something about 2nd gear being the closest one to engagement or something like that. What do you guys think? Thanks. BTW I got Mobil 1 Synthetic 75w-90 in it right know. Isn't that supposed to be good?

Well if you do plan on keeping it in, try using red line tranny fluid. I've heard really good things about it, a friend of mine put some in his tranny that was making a gear noise - after he put in the red line, low and behold the noise went away. Sorry to jump into conclusions of returning it - it's just after blowing my tranny, I am paranoid of any unusual sounding gear noise.

UPDATE...Ok I adjusted the slave cylinder rod underneath the dash and the problem went away. Later that day, as I was entering the freeway, I accidentally let the clutch out too quick in 3rd gear making the car jerk and the tires chirp. Now the problem has come back. Any idea of what could be causing this now? (1st-2nd grind) Also, when downshifting from 3rd to 2nd I have to force it in but it doesn’t grind. Could this be a clutch problem and/or maybe the mount? Thanks again.

I would bleed the system until you see fresh fluid coming out. If there is any mushiness or if the engagement point is not at the same level all the time, then: 1, You have air in the system 2. The master or slave need renewed.

Problem could be both, but bleed first. It is usually good practice to replace both the master and slave with a new clutch because a fresh pressure plate puts more strain on the system.

2nd gear synchros are usually the 1st to go. A premium fluid sometimes helps.

NEW UPDATE...

You guys were right. I took it to two mechanics and both of them confirmed I got a bad synchro. The only thing that still bugs me is that sometimes it doesn't grind. Unless I drive it hard or on some occasions it will do it from the start. Sometimes the gear wont grind until the tranny warms up. When I adjusted the clucth pedal it went away for a moment. My question is why is it so inconsistent? When I put the tranny on I put Mobil 1 Synthetic 75W90 gear oil. Could it be helping the synchro? If I keep driving it will it go away? I cant afford to drop some more money for another tranny so I'll have to live with this one. In the mean time what oil do you guys reccomend for a bad synchro? So far, people have reccomended Redline and Amsoil. What about GM Synchromesh? Or should I just leave Mobil 1 in it? Thanks again.

Your oil in it now should be ok. If you take it easy and not shift it as fast as you possibly can, it will last quite a while. If you beat it up it WILL get consistently worse, no matter what kind of oil is in it.

So putting GM Synchromesh in it isn't worth it? Read some great stuff about this oil.

Chances are that when it doesn't grind, your revs are better matched when changing gears. Practice your rev matching more and that synchro will last longer.

Redline products have given many of the other members some great results. When I put the lsd in my GS the rear was growling a bit. I put BG products in both the rear end and tranny and I am please with the results. The rear end is now quiet.

No tranny lube will fix a bad synchro, but a premium one may help it last longer.