T176 second gear issues helllllp!

[raser13]

Hello Transmission experts!

Got a stumper. I just rebuilt the Transmission on my 77 CJ5 . This is a T-176 4 speed manual. Everything is fine except you can't downshift from 3rd or 4th into 2nd. It's "locked out". Similar to how 1st gear is locked out until you slow to a certain speed. To shift into 2nd, I must first slow enough to be able to engage 1st gear. Once 1st has been engaged, I can then select 2nd gear.

There is no grinding. 2nd gear just will not engage. I'm wondering
if it's possible that I
put the synchro for second gear on backwards or something. This was my first time rebuilding a Transmission .

Thanks guys for any help.

 

[CJim7]

I'm not going to be much help here, there's not a lot of info to go on, but I would bet it's a synchro issue.
You may inevitably have to take it apart again

 

[Lumpy Grits]

First-Let's set the pedal freeplay to 1-1 1/4".
When was the last time you ck'd the oil level in that tranny?
What oil are you using in that 176??
LG

 

[mtnwhlr]

What oil are you using in that 176??
LG

Now there is a can of worms.

 

[Lumpy Grits]

Now there is a can of worms.

I meant to say what 'WEIGHT' oil......

LG

 

[duke94]

I just rebuilt my T-176 and I'd say that you can't get the syncro in backwards and still get all the snap rings on. Did you have the shifter slides apart? Maybe something not right here.

 

[Posi]

What is your idle speed set at?

Try double clutching to see what happens. When in third or fourth push in the clutch and shift to neutral, disengage the clutch, now engage clutch and downshift.

 

[GatorBate]

So, I'm not the only one having this problem. It's like the 2nd gear synchro is not engaging. I have found that if I bump 1st gear enough to engage the synchro then go for 2nd it will go. It has gotten better over time but it is still hard to shift down into 2nd. Double clutching works, but you are essentially bypassing the synchro by doing that.
Did you replace the 1st/2nd synchronizer assembly?

 

[Lumpy Grits]

Not uncommon to have to 'bump' 1 first gear to enter 2nd, at a dead stop with many manual trannys.
LG

 

[Posi]

It has gotten better over time but it is still hard to shift down into 2nd. Double clutching works, but you are essentially bypassing the synchro by doing that.
Did you replace the 1st/2nd synchronizer assembly?

I asked you to double clutch to isolate the synchos, now you know your problem. You say it's getting better, you can play it out for awhile and see if the syncho meshing improves (break-in), or pull the cover and have a look see.