t-5 popping out of first gear

[black 96 gt]

I have an 84 mustang gt that randomly pops itself out of first gear. It just starting doing this yesterday and seam's to be just fine when i hold the shifter in place. But if i take my hand off, it will take itself out of gear. There is nothing else wrong with the transmission other than the 2nd gear grind i have become used to. Does this sound like a syncro? Or something a little more serious? First gear has seen quite a few hole shot's so i'm not expecting a cheap fix.

 

[BlownFiveLiter]

I had one that did the same thing once. It ended up being a bad bearing, but I honestly don't recall where inside the trans, since it was around 8 or 9 years ago. You literally couldn't tell without completely disassembling the trans though.

 

[Cjfoxbody13]

Im going through the same thing right now. And I was told a synchro by a trans guy. But im taking mine to get fixed tomorrow and I will let you know.

 

[Chrome_Rust]

I am not sure what the technical term is, but in a T5 the shift fork rides in it's own gear of sorts. that gear rides on the input shaft (not the actual input shaft, but the shaft that is inline with it, like i said, not sure on the technical parts). that gear slides on the shaft on a splined hub. on that splined hub there are 3 metal spring loaded tabs. those tabs hole the shift fork in the gear you select. when those get broke you will notice the shifter is very easily moved from one gear to the next,(like 1-2, 3-4. but not 2-3, or 4-5). you can replace them, but you will have to disassemble most of the trans.

My current t5 is a 4cyl (broke the other one) and the 3-4 shift is really sloppy. the Pro-Ripper i have on there helps, but there is no positive feeling. I know those tabs are broken ( broke the 3-4 shift fork, so i have been in the trans)

Hopefully someone can chime in and tell me what i am talking about with technical terms.

hope this helps

Charlie

 

[v8only]

the most common reason they pop out of gear is that it is hitting the shifter boot, or your shift stops are not set right. You need to check that before anything else.

Having said that, if it's still popping out of gear, it's likely worn syncro's/blocker rings and/or worn sliders, maybe even a worn gear.

If the shift forks are broken, or tabs missing, then it could be popping out of gear because it's not fully going into gear.

regardless, you've got a second gear grind, and an issue with first gear now too, all in a non world class t5.

Start searching for another trans. That 84 trans is going to cost more than it's worth to rebuild. Get an 85+ world class t5, 90+ being the best ones...it's a straight up bolt on.

 

[black 96 gt]

the most common reason they pop out of gear is that it is hitting the shifter boot, or your shift stops are not set right. You need to check that before anything else.

Having said that, if it's still popping out of gear, it's likely worn syncro's/blocker rings and/or worn sliders, maybe even a worn gear.

If the shift forks are broken, or tabs missing, then it could be popping out of gear because it's not fully going into gear.

regardless, you've got a second gear grind, and an issue with first gear now too, all in a non world class t5.

Start searching for another trans. That 84 trans is going to cost more than it's worth to rebuild. Get an 85+ world class t5, 90+ being the best ones...it's a straight up bolt on.

I took the car out for a short drive today and i have a feeling its the syncro's. And not to sound too ignorant, but what is the difference between a world class t5?

 

[v8only]

wc trannies are built better...

nwc have all brass blocker rings, wc have clutch like blocker rings, in 90 the wc trannies got a lot stronger.

they're more reliable in general and stronger

 

[Mustang5L5]

More than likely, if it's not the shifter, then it's the dog teeth on the actual gear and synchro slider.


What happens is that when you shift gears, a synchro slider rind slides forward and locks onto small beveled teeth on the actual gear itself. The angle of the teeth is such that when under load, it holds the gear and synchro together. That's why if you floor it, you should not be able to pull the trans out of gear until you take the load off the engine or push the clutch in.

Usually when you start grinding gears, it rounds over the beveled teeth to the point that they no longer hold under load. Thats when you start getting popping out of gear.

However, i don't see how you were grinding first gear...or were you??

It could be a few other things. Bent shift fork, broken springs and tabs in the synchro. To be honest, only way to tell is to open the trans up.

 

[black 96 gt]

Well, the transmission pretty much self destructed today. I'm most likely going to end up buying a rebuilt t5 from a 1985+ Mustang. This way it will be stronger and I'll know exactly what kind of abuse everything has been through. Thanks for all the replies.