Transmission hard to shift into 2nd gear

[katy]

On our '31, more often than not, when (trying to) shifting into 2nd it feels like your against a solid wall, just won't go, no grinding of gears, just a solid blocking. So a lot of times I just wind it up a bit more in 1st and then shift to high. When it does go into 2nd it will go in just the same as it does when stopped, slick as can be.
Would this 2nd gear problem be a fault in the tower? or in the transmission itself? Haven't had a chance to pull the tower and take a look at it, maybe in the spring.

TIA, Ken

[Kurt in NJ]

when the shift lever "ball" and slot for it on the forks is worn it is possible to go across from 1-R to 2-3 before it is fully out of first---this happens when side force toward 2nd is used in the 1-2 shift, if you go from first to the neutral position without any side force, then go across to 2-3 side then go into second you can work around the wear ----when the shift tower is properly rebuilt you can just push the lever toward second without it locking up

when you shift 1-3 you probably go to N, then across,then into 3 ---think like you are going to 3, then stop before 3,put in 2

[Mitch//pa]

Has any previous work been done? Sometimes the repo shift lever balls are just a little off (large) causing it to jam in the slots

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Katy,
If your shift detents are NEW & "sharp", just "slap" it into second, with an open palm. Minerva was that way into/out of ALL gears. That's NOT a Bad thing.
Bill W.

[Steve_Mack_CT]

I encountered the exact same thing with a repro tower last season, wondering if the ball will wear in, or if I should do anything to get it where it needs to be. Bill gave some advice that it would wear in , but I might see what I can do if the wear in takes a while as it occurs maybe once every few up shifts to second only.

[Steve_Mack_CT]

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Bill, how long till Minerva was broken in so to speak?

[rscardina]

I had the same exact issue. I did notice the shift lever ball worn. I bought a new tower that didn't fit. I would rebuild the tower before buying a new one. I had someone give me a spare that he had and I ordered a new shift lever and replaced the old one. It shifts fine now.

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

[QUOTE=Steve_Mack_CT;1224764]Bill, how long till Minerva was broken in so to speak?[/QUOTE
Steve,
She was always like that, I drove her for 8 years & ran 400 to 500 miles a month on her.
I'm glad they stayed "sharp", as the detent are the ONLY things that hold a Model A IN GEAR!
You CAN'T "CUSTOMIZE" a Model A transmission to suit yourself. You just rebuild it properly & learn to ADAPT yourself, to how it shifts. Chief might say, "You cain't build a synchronizer out of a HOGS' EAR or a BOARS' BUTT"!
Chiefs' Son

[RonC]

That is a symptom of not fully disengaging from first gear. You can't be in 2 gears at the same time. As has been commented it's a shifter tower assembly problem.

[Ed H.]

Try double clutching, that will usually work on most worn transmissions

[Tom Wesenberg]

Like Kurt said, you need to hold the shift lever and move it in a strictly H pattern, rather than trying to slide it though an X pattern.

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Originally Posted by RonC

That is a symptom of not fully disengaging from first gear. You can't be in 2 gears at the same time. As has been commented it's a shifter tower assembly problem.

Ron,
IF it wasn't fully disengaging from first, I'm sure the owner would be reporting some REALLY WEIRD SYMPTOMS.
Bill W.

[Steve_Mack_CT]

Agree, Bill. Cannot speak for Ken, but I don't think that I am not getting out of first gear. Anyway thanks all, hopefully it helped OP out.

Steve

[99ZoomR]

Hi Ken. With the winter temps my A takes a little more effort and deliberation to move between gears until things get warmed up. Not sure what you are using, but I'm using Mobil 600w.

[katy]

Has any previous work been done?

Don't really know what's been done, bought the "assembled" '31 CCPU last May. Fellow spent 14 years on it.

It comes out of 1st OK, I've tried double clutching but it doesn't help, still feels like it's hitting something solid.
As stated, I'll pull the tower and look at it in the spring. Right now I'm just looking for thoughts and ideas on this.

Not sure what you are using, but I'm using Mobil 600w.

Don't know for sure what's in the box, but methinks that it's the 600 that the vendors sell, it's pretty heavy stuff. I haven't tried it in the cold, just in the summer and fall. The cold don't bother me, it's the salt on the roads.

[Ron Lachniet]

When I first got my 31 tudor I could not find second gear, but my friend who got me into model a's could shift it with no problem. With a little practice I figured it out. I was trying to force it, instead of easing it into second gear and letting it find itself. I think it often just needs a soft touch.

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Originally Posted by Ron Lachniet

When I first got my 31 tudor I could not find second gear, but my friend who got me into model a's could shift it with no problem. With a little practice I figured it out. I was trying to force it, instead of easing it into second gear and letting it find itself. I think it often just needs a soft touch.

Yes, Ron,
It's sorta' an ART, learning to drive MANY OLD CARS. Each have their own "personalities". It's much like when you get a NEW DOG & don't want to get BIT!
Bill W.