wonder if this is just with my car, but when driving is there only a certain speed that it will allow you to downshift your car into first gear smoothly, i mean you can still get it into 1st if you apply force but is this a safety device or is there something wrong with my transmission, becase my uncles old bmw can slip into 1st no prob

 

I have an auto so I dont speak from experience on the FD, but most sticks I've driven are hard to put it back into first unless you're creeping along - my Supra does the exact same thing. I think its to keep you from pulling a dumb$#%^ by downshifting from 4th to 1st. I doubt you have a problem.

 

As with most all manuals the key to downshifting is matching Rpms at what speed are you trying to shift into first at and when you double clutch what do you rev to?

 

Oh man, I should have added these commas....

...matching Rpms , at ...
...first at, and ...

 

I think its a safety device? in my sisters car I can shift into first while im rolling pretty easily. In the FD IMO you have to find a rythym when shifting it into first. My friend always ask how I do it because everytime I let him drive my car, he completely stops the car before shifting to first because he can't get it in gear.

 

Every stick I've ever owned or ever driven has been like this. Ford Probe, Ford Ranger, Eclipse, FD, etc...

 

you have to roll pretty slow to get it back into 1st, but i guess it is a safety.

 

take apart your trans and you will not find a safty device . You just need to match rpm of motor to lower gear .a little practice with good thinking will do it.

 

Little tip you pick up learning to drive on a track... It's called heel/toe. The reason you're having this problem is because many synchromesh transmissions (nearly all street manual trannys) do not have a 1st gear synchro. The syncronizer ring that matches the input shaft speed to the output shaft speed has to be within a certain range in the differences of these two speeds. When this occurs, the synchro slides into the gear locking it basically to the output shaft. Because you don't have this on first gear, there is no range for the gears to mesh, so you have to be exact. FYI, this is why many people blow up their 5 gear synchronizer ring, it's been forced in while shifting too fast (I should mention, speed shifting and all that is rediculous because of the wear put on the drivetrain, for the negligable amount of time you think you pick up). In order to downshift to first gear effectively at normal road speed or even race conditions with a sychro tranny, you need to match these rpms the best you can as duboisr mentioned. To do this, it takes practice and precise foot control as you use your left foot on the clutch (too bad it's not a dogbox like a formula car or you could ignore the clutch), and your right foot, naturally, on the brake pedal as you are slowing down, hence needing to downshift, but only using the ball of your foot. Next, you roll your foot over to the gas pedal using the outside of your foot to rev the engine up to the proper rpm (practice part), while keeping constant brake pressure on the pedal.
So in conclusion, there is some kind of a safety device "built in" the transmission, it's called the 1st gear set and if you force it, have fun with your tranny rebuild as you're probably gonna shear off some teeth and probably mess up more stuff in there. Now maybe you can appreciate more of what the real racers go through versus the turn left and lift philosophy here in the states. (stepping off soapbox)

Richard