84 cj7 won't go into gear

[Joey84cj7]

Yesterday I had to push really hard to get my jeep into 1st or 2nd after driving for about 20 minutes. After it cooled for an hour or so it went into gear for a few minutes then stated getting rally hard to go into 1st and 2nd. This afternoon I went for another ride. Everything was fine for 15 or 20 minutes. Then it started to get hard to put it into gear. I could get it in 1st if I was rolling a little. Now I can't get it into any gear except reverse with the motor running. Reverse grinds a little. It will go into gear with engine off. With it in gear and the clutch all the way in, it rolls forward a little. I'm new to working on a jeep and on a manual Transmission . The fluid was a little low but not bad. I topped it off. Please help me fix it. Thanks.

 

[Hedgehog]

The Transmission doesn't go into gear when it's hot? Have you drained the Transmission ? You could have a Transmission full of water with a little grease on top. This doesn't sound good at all. You need to get dirty and drain both the Transmission and the Transfer Case . Your in wet country. Good luck, I hope you don't have little more than a rusty mess disguising itself as a Transmission .

 

[caveman]

You may need to adjust the clutch linkage.

 

[rufus1138]

where are you at in pensacola, i can help if you have time after 430 during the week, not sure what this coming weekend looks like yet but we can probably have you diagnosed or fixed this weekend, if it requires an overhaul ive done a T-18 before and can figure out whatever you have, these things are easy lol and likely less than 500 bucks.

 

[Joey84cj7]

Thanks for the help everyone. I'm planning on changing the fluid this afternoon. Rufus - I am home after 5:00 today and tomorrow. I live on the campus of pensacola Christian College. I would love some help.

 

[rufus1138]

k, lemme check with the wife, i got everything in the truck, its been a kind of mobile work shop for our jeep lol. what tranny do u have.

 

[IOPort51]

sounds like clutch adjustment and a T-176 tranny.

 

[rufus1138]

i second that, ive been looking into it and im almost certian that it will be a clutch problem somehow. the flywheel warms up and tightens the tolerance between it and the friction plate, this makes it so you cant get the clutch totally separated and the tranny wont spin down for shifting.

 

[Hedgehog]

Rufus - You just went throught changing Transmission lube, I think Joey would benifit from a Transmission /Transfer Case oil change. Remember if your oil looks milky at all, you've got water. Think Joey has a clutch problem, but having the problem surface only when it's hot is a little odd. He could be having syncro's sticking.

 

[rufus1138]

good point, the fluid change is easy, u dont need me there for that at all, as long as you have good jacks and stands, ill pm u my number and u can call if you need. i dont think ill be able to break free tonight.

 

[billyballer]

I just posted this in another thread but it applies to you as well.
What Transmission do you have? I'm guessing T-4 or T-5 .
I've had this issue in the past with my '86 w/T-5 and it could be a couple of things. First off inspect your clutch linkage. The stock linkage is poor design that uses plastic bushings which wear out, and then the metal rod ovals out the metal whole so that your linkage doesn't engage fully. There are cheap replacements available that use heim joints which won't wear out and make the clutch pedal much easier to engage. Highly recommend this mod:
Rod Links CMP7560 - Rod Links Clutch Linkage for 76-86 Jeep® CJ - Quadratec

The input bearing retainer on the T-4 /T-5 (which the throwout bearing moves on) is made of aluminum on the Jeep Transmission and will get pitted and wear down which can cause engagement problems. If you are changing the clutch, inspect the front bearing retainer and if it is worn or pitted replace it. I think there are steel retainers available.

Read more: http://www.jeep-cj.com/forums/f2/wont-shift-reverse-21527/#ixzz2uxRiaME1
​

 

[Joey84cj7]

So the fluid change was not as easy as I hoped. It seems that I am one of the lucky ones that has a Transmission with no drain plug. I gave up last night without getting it done because it is too cold. At this point the jeep will not go into any gear except reverse except with the jeep is off or when I put the 4 wheel drive into neutral. In neutral or with engine off, it will go into all gears rather smoothly.

 

[Posi]

It's not your fluid, fluid level, or Transmission the issue is elsewhere IMO. I believe the problem is with the clutch linkage or clutch system, read Billyballer's post. Also what RPM's do you have the idle set at?

 

[Hedgehog]

Do you have a hydrolic clutch? If so there is no adjustment. Check your hydrolic flud levels though. A master or slave cylinder leaking will cause the clutch not to work. At this point I agree with the others that are pointing to the clutch. If its a gear grinding issue it's most likely clutch related. Even in the best of times clutches don't last overly long. Earlier in this thread you were saying that it was hard to shift and I was thinking gear movement was becomming difficult.

I'd still change your gear oil, you never know how long that has been in there and you still don't know if there is any water in there. Water is more frequently in a Transmission and Transfer Case than people know. Simple things like a torn shift lever boot can fill a Transmission by water following the shift linkage down the lever and right into the Transmission .

 

[rufus1138]

hydraulic clutches can be adjusted, its just not as easy the actuator rod coming from the slave cylinder can be lengthened or shortened to facilitate engagement, if its easily accomplished its cheaper than getting a new flywheel.

 

[Hedgehog]

New Flywheel? I can see where a new clutch might be needed and your flywheel resurfacedk, but needing a new flywheel is rarely needed.

 

[rufus1138]

with hydraulic clutch systems the flywheel resurfacing will eventually bring the measurements of the flywheel down to a point where the engagement will be nearly on the floor.

at one time this was remedied by shimming the flywheel back into position (were only talking a few thousandths of and inch here) now everyone wants to just replace the flywheel instead because maths and such, so the alternate solution is to alter the length of the actuator arm coming from the slave cylinder, all it takes is a little thinking and careful planning.

 

[Lumpy Grits]

First ck clutch pedal adjustment.
If it feels as if the clutch is not disengaging/releasing correctly and when this has happened to me.
It was due to the friction plate of the clutch hav'n come apart.
LG

 

[Hedgehog]

Rufus - Throw out bearings come in different lenghts..... Some older manuals talk aout making sure you get the right length bearing for your application/clutch.

 

[rufus1138]

hmmm, that could be another place to fix that problem, ill let my uncle know, he may have a too short throwout bearing, it was matched from the parts store computer to his vehicle but we all know how reliable that can be.