mazda.junkie

Have an 87 Sport, Car has been flawlessly trouble free for the most part, Drove the car home from work yesterday, parked it and allowed it to cool.
A few hours later I changed the oil and installed Mazda oil filter, then pressured it.
All good, didnt drive the car till this morning. Pulled out of the driveway and headed for the local Kwik E Mart for a microwave biscuit when after shifting from second to third I got a nice grinding crunch. So I attributed it to be being 75% unconscience and maybe not depressing the clutch completely before shifting. Please bear in mind that I am at one with my car because its my daily driver and frequently rip these mountain roads up on the weekends. It has for the most part always had a small snag when going into third if I shift very quickly at about 8000rpms, but I usually dont push it like that very often. Anyways, more to the point.
Car was shifting smoothly yesterday when I parked it and now shifting into 3rd anything over 4 grand and it grinds like a ****, anything less than that and it goes like butter into gear. I kinda find it hard to believe that it would **** up so badly overnight but it is what it is. Has anyone else encounter anything similar to this and if so what did you do to remedy this problem short of just putting a nother trans in. Could a high quality synthetic gear oil help or am I pretty much screwed? Had a new clutch put in the car about two weeks ago and though maybe the guy lost some gear oil out of the shaft after taking the driveshaft out, turns out to be full. Im kinda broken hearted because that SCRX-7 Crew is coming up tomarrow and we are supposed to do some mountain runs, but I hate to beat on it too much and have to start driving it while going from 2nd to 4th since torque is an attribute that these engines do not wholey possess. Anyways, any possible short term solutions would be appreciated even though a trans swap is prolly inevitable. Thanx guys for any constructive advice ELI

siguy2k

iTrader: (3)

You could probly try some redline mt-90 from summit or somewhere. But other than that it sounds like the syncro is toast. I just put a tranny in mine. I would not spend the money on a used one. You can get one from rx7world.com for like 1220 with a 300 core charge though so like 920 for a completly rebuilt one with new syncros, seals, bearings, and whatever else would need to be replaced. I couldnt be happier with how tight and precise this shifts. Zero play with the shifter too. I would also not recommend short shifter. Thanks

TeamRSK

I am starting to have same prob i think it seams harder and harder to get in to gear now adays. Looks like a rebuild will be coming toon for trans. hay Si how come no short shifter? i got one and love it but if i am missing something let me know plz.

siguy2k

iTrader: (3)

That is what The Rotary Doctor told me when he rebuilt my motor. He says every one he has ever seen go bad has had a short shifter and hes been doing it like 35 years. You will not even care if you get a rebuilt one as the stock shifter feels great in mine. Just make sure to keep the stock **** or a weighted one.

AllMotorRotor

Both my transmissions have got the same issue. Both were good untill I started beating on them . 2nd gear in the tranny I have now likes to grind when shifting at high rpms. I do have a T2 tranny to put in though.

876portturbo

iTrader: (4)

Been grinding third at high RPMS for six years, its hasnt changed and it gets abused, so I would say you have time.

mazda.junkie

The bushings in my shifter are getting pretty sloppy and would be overjoyed if the
rebuilt trans had new shifter bushings. Have considered putting a MX5 shifter in my car because of how much I love the way the my Miata shifts, but I have got mixed feedback on that subject. $920ish isnt to bad, I have numerous resources as far as used parts go. But im of the same mindset as you, it would be worth the extra money just to get a fresh tranny= no worries. As a general rule, these transmissions are pretty tough and it would surely last the remainder of my cars life span. I think i'll change the gear oil tomarrow and see if that helps any, and if not I will defanantly look into what RX-7 World has to offer because I have no intentions of letting the car go, Anyways thanks man for the heads up. ELI

siguy2k

iTrader: (3)

Yeah and i forgot to mention that it came with a one year warranty.

mazda.junkie

Thats good to know, but it sounds so bad that I cring every time I go to third whether it grinds or not. Im gonna say f'it and beat on it tomarrow with the SC bunch and if it gets worse, then I'll park it for a while and drive the 5

mazda.junkie

Was you shifter bushings getting sloppy in them? or are they pretty tight?

mazda.junkie

Prolly unlimited mileage I assume?

mazda.junkie

That almost sounds like the clutch is starting to get thin, as strange as that sounds.

Gene

iTrader: (1)

Hell, my syncros have been screwed up for a long time, but I learned to shift better because of it

mazda.junkie

Well, I doubt the little japs from Mazda could shift this car well enough to keep it from grinding 3rd over 4000rpm, even downshifting from 4th gently still sounds crunchy sometimes! And I dont know how long I can live with it. I think the wornout bushings in my shifter could be a factor

AllMotorRotor

Down shifting is little harder but you can do it. I can do it without grinding but you have to rev then engine up about another 1500-2000rpm or so depending on the gear. I skip 3rd and go from 4th to 2nd. I just slow down more in 4th before downshifting.

Upshifting into 3rd I do all day long without grinding. I hit the clutch, count one second and throw it in. If you can learn to shift without grinding all day long, there is nothing to worry about. Just make sure your tranny gets cleaned out of metal shavings

mazda.junkie

Theres prolly a few shards of metal floating around, full tranny drain tomarrow.
When my clutch went out I had to drive my car home by revmatching the RPMs
and letting the car pull itself into gear because I couldnt disingage the clutch, managed to make it home, about 8 miles without grinding any gears or having to completely stop "lucky" and I kinda experaminted with that same principle today with mixed results. As long as I shift under 4000rpm its not an issue, but I live in the mountains and sometimes I have to get a good pull in second gear in some of these steep curves and hit 3rd to keep momentem, but I guess after I do the mountain runs this weekend with a SC rx7 club its granny FC for me lol. Thanx AMR