tough to shift into first
 

My FD has the quirk where it doesn't like to go into first. Sometimes it feels like i have to force it in. It usually works better if i shift to another gear or two with the clutch in and then try first again. I don't like to force it if i don't have to. But it takes a firm amount of pressure to put it into gear. Does anyone have this problem? Changed to neo and still have it. What could it be? Is this something that can be fixed? If so is it something I could do? It's just annoying and I am worried that some day it may get worse and mess something up. Any info would be appreciated.

I have the same problem too. It's probably the gearbox or synchro.

I changed my tranny this weekend, and when it was all said and done, I had a hell of a time changing it into ALL gears. Found out that the OS Giken clutch comes with a different clutch master cylinder and the end of it has an adjustment on it that allows the "grab" point on the clutch to be adjust high or low. Well mine was't adjusted to my new clutch and when the clutch wasn't engaged, the rear plate would disengage, but the front one wouldn't. I had to call Igy and ask him what the hell was I doing wrong, and he found the problem and the solution. Thank God that's all it was:cool:

....oh yeah, almost forgot...thanks Igy:D

Try going from neutral to 2nd, back to neutral then first. You can also try releasing the clutch a little while pushing it in first. FYI, I only go into first If I'm completly stopped.

Try rev matching...
Though like the last post I rarely am in 1st...

-Kib

I have the same prob... I also have a fifth synchro problem, I think they are inter-related. I can't even go into first unless I'm at almost a complete stop so... My guess is to rebuild the tranny...

Just a little FYI on the second gens the trannys arent designed to go into first unless you are under 5 mph...and even close to 5 it is hard to get it into first. Dont know if it has any revilance to a 3rd gen though. Is the car completely stopped when it is this hard to engage first? If it is not stopped what speed are ya'll trying to engage first?
later

lol, I do that too

are f-ing serious? This car was made so that I can't go into first whenever I want to? Is this true, or is it because of my fifth gear sync?

I have had to shove mine in first at about 15mph before, I hated the way it felt. So yes, it can be done. My car is 99.9% a street car and if I did that all the time, I would be buying a tranny every year.

It is probably just the synchro due to this kind of driving but don't quote me on that.

I had the same problem when I first bought my car. I could not put the car into first unless I rev matched it. It turned out to be a worn thin clutch disc. The hydraulic travel of the release fork was not enough to release the clutch with such a thin disc. The clutch was engaged enough that it would continue to spin the transmission mainshaft.

damnit, I knew it... so it's not SUPPOSE to do that? Need to save money now for rebuild!

FWIW, mine does this also. But so does my relatively new (10K miles) WRX. The FD is a little stiffer, but the WRX isn't much better. I just don't try and force it if I'm coming down to a stop. I have to be almost all the way stopped...as mentioned earlier.

Maybe the FD has a parts issue, but I doubt the Subaru does. Should be solved soon with the rebuild, etc., etc., etc., $$$$$$$, etc. :D

Just my observations.

-E

How fast are you going when you try to shift into first? Yeah, it won't let you in if you're going above, i dunno, 15 MPH or so, just so you don't break something. I know it sounds "gay" but what if you were coasting from 50 and you wanted to be in first for when you stopped, and you accidentally engaged the clutch....overrevved and fucked engine. It takes some getting used to, but only if you're new to stick.
~Tom

Well... it won't let me go in until I am at LEAST under 5MPH, and at that speed its a little tough... the reason I'm complaining is becuase, when I'm making a U-turn somewhere and there's plenty of room, I can't shift into first and have to gun it in second gear... and the torque is horrible when starting from 2nd when your only starting at around 5-10 MPH

Does it get any better after the car is warmed up?

I know mine is also a real bitch to get into first when it's cold. After about a mile or so of driving (city) it loosens up considerably. Again, same with the Subaru...except for the WRXs horrible clutch shudder when cold.

-E

cold warm or hot, it doesnt matter... now I'm pretty sure it has to do with the fifth sync after everything i heard from you all...

We just replaced the clutch (Pettit), pilot bearing, and upgraded to a lightened flywheel.

The cluch wouldn't disengage, so we adjusted the clutch pedal's adjustment rod to just about maximum length.

It shifts fine, but when warm and going about 20 MPH, it is very hard to put it in 1st gear. It will shift/go into 1st at at STOP with no problems.

Is this normal ?

Thanks,
Neil

PS: tranny has 93K miles on it. New 75w90 gear oil.

i have heard different things on this. my car does not want to let me downshift into 1st at 20mph. i can but it is hard like you mentioned. i think damien said his goes in no prob. some cars will lock out first above a speed. how is your freeplay on the clutch pedal? it is important to have some.

I believe I have some free-play. The clutch dis/engage point is about half-way down the entire stroke of the clutch pedal.

:-) neil

geez, back from the dead....:D

The answers right there. It has nothing to do with the 5th gear synchro and a rebuild is not required unless you have other problems. The transmission was made to lock out first and not let you get into gear unless your going about 5 to 10 mph so you cant screw your car up, like Hyperite said above.

For me, anything above 5 to 10 mph and it wont go in. And forcing it into 1st isn't too good for the gears. That will requrie a rebuild soon. ;)

I read that part of "locking you out", but it wasn't clear that this was how the tranny was designed, esp. afterwards, someone said his goes into first with no problem, esp. at speed.

Guess, I'll have to keep the speed up during autox. I was hoping to use 1st gear on some segments.

:-) neil

talk to turbo jeff. i think he went to a higher gear set for auto-x for a similar reason. 1st is a little to touchy

I've had two tranny's, and neither of them liked going into first. I found that sometimes if I double clutch, it goes in so smooth that it's surprising(absolutely no resistance). However, I haven't perfected it, or found any real rhyme or reason to it.
Matching revs does help a lot. My buddy who is an instructor got in my 7 after I had complained about it not going into first, and preceded to do it like 10 times in a row without issue. He was matching revs.