No first gear

[vulforge]

Some time ago my 1967 Roadster blew out the clutch slave cylinder. I was only 20 blocks from home so crash shifted it back. Replaced the slave cylinder, bled, works fine. But now I can not shift into first gear. All the rest work fine. Bent shift fork? F'ed up synchro? What is the chance I can fix this without pulling the drivetrain? I rebuilt one of these transmissions, hope to never do another.

TIA
Russell
'67 Datsun Roadster

[david premo]

4 speed or 5 speed?

[JT68]

Can you shift into 1st dead stopped? Does it grind when you attempt that or does the shifter just do nothing for 1st?

If you put it into first with the engine stopped, is it in gear? (Or will it roll as in neutral?)

If crunches, you may have set too much free play, not fully disengaging the clutch. System not adequately bled would do that too.

J

[C.Costine]

Some time ago my 1967 Roadster blew out the clutch slave cylinder. I was only 20 blocks from home so crash shifted it back. Replaced the slave cylinder, bled, works fine. But now I can not shift into first gear. All the rest work fine. Bent shift fork? F'ed up synchro? What is the chance I can fix this without pulling the drivetrain? I rebuilt one of these transmissions, hope to never do another.

TIA
Russell
'67 Datsun Roadster

If crash shifted means forcing it into gear with the car stationary, I would suspect a bent fork. When this has happened to me I have put the transmission in first and started the car moving with the starter.

[jrusso07]

On my 5 speed, I lost second It turns out the fork moved enough on the fork rod/shaft as to not engage the gear - this due the roll pin that holds the fork to the rod being partially sheared from hard shifting into second from worn synchro

[vulforge]

This is the 4-speed. Will not go in to first at all. Easily shifts through all other gears. Hydraulics and clutch working properly.
Can the forks be reached through the inspection cover?

[JT68]

If you sheered a roll pin, yes you could replace that through the lower access plate, but if you sheered the 1st/2nd pin, you probably would’ve lost second as well. There might be enough friction to engage second however. You can drop the plate and see what’s going on.

You would not be able to replace the fork or do anything more serious than the roll pin with the transmission in the car. So unless it’s a roll pin, it’s coming out. Best of luck and hope it’s a pin

[S Allen]

I have a freshly rebuilt 4 speed 4 sale in the classifieds. Just an FYI.

Steve

[jrusso07]

When I say “partially sheared roll pin” what happened was the pin shear on one side of the rod and then shifting “smeared” the pin in the fork diameter making an interference fit with the shift rod. It was a real bitch getting it out...on the bench