TR4/4A Second gear hard to shift into on first try

[Tony P]

I have a newly rebuilt transmission on my TR 4. When I start the car, warm it up and drive off shifting from 1st to 2nd is difficult and I have to double clutch to get it into 2nd. Now here is the rub, once underway the gearbox works smoothly and quietly. After the very first shift to 2nd, all other shifts into 2nd are smooth. It only happens once and that is the first time out of the driveway.
I have installed new clutch, T O bearing, cross shaft bushings, pressure plate, clutch master cylinder, slave and hose. I have spent hours adjusting and readjusting the slave linkage per the car manual.

I can live with the one time double clutch per outing, but it is just driving me crazy when I can't seem to figure it out. What do you guys think?

Tony P

 

[Darrell_Walker]

What are you using for fluid in the transmission?

 

[Tony P]

Hey Darrell, I am using 80-90 wt. spiray oil I read on another thread that I can add a pint of some other oil to smooth it out. I will have to search it out and get back to you. Thanks.

Tony

 

[Tony P]

Ok Darrell, I found it. That person said to put a pint of Lucas oil treatment and then top off. He said he has gotten good results. Who knows. I have to research what is in that Lucas treatment and see if it will effect the trans.

 

[sail]

I had that problem when I rebuilt my own box. Scared the wits out of me. Mainly when cold and tests were in November/ December. I now just take it easy when cold and know thats the way it is. Redline helped, me being aware helped more.

 

[bobh]

I'm with Sail,

When I changed the oil in my TR6 last summer I went with Redline MT90. I don't know if the Lucas additive is rated. If so it needs to be GL4 not GL5. Personally I don't use any additives in the gearbox. I do run a few ounces of Redline Break In fluid in the engine to make sure it gets its Vitamin Z (ZDDP)

 

[Tony P]

Well redline MT 90 sounds like the ticket. I know that I have to do a fluid changeout on the Tr4 as soon as I reach my 1000 mile break in point on my engine rebuild. Still trying to get everything to settle in with my engine, carbs, trans and OD rebuilds. I guess miles is all that is needed for a while.

thanks for the help
Tony

 

[alanjohnturner]

Do you have OD?

In the UK where its basically cold and wet even in Summer lots of guys use engine oil in the gbox. Some do this with OD fitted.

The second gear syncro has a hard job to spin up the gear when the oil is cold. There is a lot of oil drag in these boxes.

When these were new we all used double-declutching most of the time. Lots of boxes had no syncro on first.

You may find this interesting:

https://www.quantumechanics.com/qm-htm/topic1.htm

 

[CJD]

Good article Alan. Sounds like 30W non detergent is the way to go. It also explains why the 140w I'm using in the non-overdrive box is so stiff when cold. That'll have to come out at the next change...

 

[Tony P]

Yes I do have OD and I am thinking of going to a lighter wt soon. I will start from 90 wt and reduce wt until I get the response I need on that 2nd gear shift. Thanks Alan.

Tony

 

[alanjohnturner]

You guys might like this thread on the UK forum:

https://www.tr-register.co.uk/forums/index.php?/topic/41786-tr6-od-gearbox-type-oil/

You will see someone mention Peter Cox.

Before Moss reached the UK, the premier TR parts supplier/repairer in the UK was Cox & Buckles.
Peter Cox still does a lot of gearbox rebuilds here. So what he recommends CANNOT be far wrong.