Getting pretty darned hard to shift into 1st gear

[Jerry Bransford]

My AX-15 has been getting pretty darned reluctant to shift into 1st gear lately. I have to almost force it into 1st gear from a stop, what's going on? It has 128,000 miles on it and of course it's had its gear lube changed on a regular basis with the "right stuff".

Is this an expensive problem?

[Paradiddle]

You should have traded for that auto Jerry!!!

Jeff

[Jerry Bransford]

This problem is one of the reasons I did not do that swap. I'd hate to trade trannies and then find out my old tranny grenaded or needed an expensive repair. Besides, I realized I'd only be happy with a 4-speed auto with my present 4.88 gearing.

[Joe Dillard]

Hi Jerry!

Have you ever replaced the clutch master cylinder or did any other maintenance to the tranny besides what you already mentioned? Is the fluid level in the master cylinder ok? Is the color good? If not, have you pulled the carpet back & taken a look at where the plunger goes through the firewall to see if there is evidence of clutch fluid leaks or o-ring blowby?

I recently picked up a clutch master cylinder from Auto Zone & the prices for mine ('91 YJ AX-15) have came down dramatically.

[Jerry Bransford]

Hmm, I hadn't considered that the clutch might be part of the problem Joe. However, I just checked the clutch fluid level and it is definitely as full as it was when the Jeep was brand-new and it still has the same clear-looking color as new. Odd that it still looks good after all these miles but at least there's definitely no leak in the system.

Dang, I was hoping it was perhaps just a leaky master cyclinder but no such luck. Thanks anyway Joe.

[Jeff Weston]

FWIW Jerry, those trannies don't seem to have a long life, at least in my experience. Both my old XJ and my dad's YJ needed the trannies rebuilt between 100k - 150k miles. I hope it turns out to be something minor.

[Jerry Bransford]

Oh, now that isn't very comforting to read but I'd rather be forewarned, thanks Jeff. Hmm, I hadn't ever read that the AX-15 had a short life-expectancy problem like that... dang.

[ScottyY2K]

Jerry - I am sure you have checked this....but I had an incident several years ago when the Jeep was bacially my wifes DD where the drivers side MM loosened up and made it hard to shift.

Your MM's are tight right?

[Jerry Bransford]

Originally posted by ScottyY2K
Jerry - I am sure you have checked this....but I had an incident several years ago when the Jeep was bacially my wifes DD where the drivers side MM loosened up and made it hard to shift.

Your MM's are tight right?

Thanks but yes, the MMs are in good shape. They're my 3rd set (of of the Currie mounts broke) but this time I went heavy-duty with M.O.R.E.'s "Bombproof" mounts.

[sethmark]

Are you sure you're not searching for an excuse to swap an auto?

[Jeff Weston]

Originally posted by sethmark
Are you sure you're not searching for an excuse to swap an auto?

I think his Jeep is trying to tell him something but he just won't get the message.

[sethmark]

You should've bought a porsche?

[Cement_guy]

I trust you don't downshift it rather than use the brakes, but for all the folks who do, STOP!! It gobbles syncros!

[LeadFoot]

Happened with my fathers ax-5, when the tranny guy rebuilt it, he said the synchros were 3/4 worn. A resurfaced flywheel, luk clutch, rebuilt tranny, new slave, and shifts good as new.

[Jerry Bransford]

Originally posted by sethmark
Are you sure you're not searching for an excuse to swap an auto?

Heh, that thought is never very far away. An auto will be the next major change, that is for sure.

[Randall Edge]

Here ya go Jerry --->Link A couple of us are hashing out the details for ya.