Can worn detent ball/springs cuse a 4 speed tranny to "lock" out of any gear?

[motoloco]

I have a 3/79', I know the detent balls and springs are shot for 1st and 2nd because it will just fall out of gear. But, about 50% of the time pulling up to a stop light it will lock its self out of any gate, if I come to a stop in nuetral! If I yank it around for a second eventually it will drop back into gear. The only way I can assure that it will not have this issue at a light is to be in first or second as I roll to a stop. Could these two issues be related?

 

[Fast Eddy]

That locking out of gear sounds like your clutch is not engaging all the way, or maybe your pilot bearing is going out, causing lots of input shaft rpm even with the clutch engaged.

What if you shift 3rd->2nd->1st? Does that help? Effectively this uses the syncros to brake the input shaft a bit at a time, allowing you to drop into gear.

 

[motoloco]

Yes, if I shift down through the gears it is never an issue. The truck has a new clutch and slave, just noticed the master is leaking a little though.

 

[Jacket]

Did you ever find a solution? Mine does the same thing, so I basically never put it in neutral any more. As long as I keep it in gear, I'm fine.