H55F hard shifting

[Petzel]

I bought a 1984 BJ60 for reasons of swapping the 3B/H55F into my FJ60. When I drove the truck home at time of purchase it seemed very hard to shift into 2nd from 1st and from 2nd to 1st at a stop light. Other than that it seems to drive well and 5th even stays in on the hwy. Anyone have any info as to whythis would be? Clutch?? Synchros?? I have also heard that there is some little plastic piece in the top of the tranny below the shifter that may cause this. Any thoughts?

I want to be pro-active before I throw the engine in to its final resting place and not have to do tranny work once everything is installed. But this may be just a dream.

Thanks,

Joel

 

[Greg_B]

I bought a 1984 BJ60 for reasons of swapping the 3B/H55F into my FJ60. When I drove the truck home at time of purchase it seemed very hard to shift into 2nd from 1st and from 2nd to 1st at a stop light. Other than that it seems to drive well and 5th even stays in on the hwy. Anyone have any info as to whythis would be? Clutch?? Synchros?? I have also heard that there is some little plastic piece in the top of the tranny below the shifter that may cause this. Any thoughts?

I want to be pro-active before I throw the engine in to its final resting place and not have to do tranny work once everything is installed. But this may be just a dream.

Thanks,

Joel

Hi Joel. Quite the hoard you are creating

Check the plastic cup (cheap and easy fix), and also check the transmission oil level. I thought my syncro's were acting up, as my shifts were getting hard. I checked the oil levels and found the tranny high on oil and the t-case low. Drained the one, filled the other, and it was back to shifting normal. I am running the oil bypass hose till the seal gets replaced.

If either of those two do not solve the issue, then I am sure others will have more ideas, and it my be the syncros'.

hth's


gb

 

[cruiser_guy]

I don't recall if the H55 has the same plastic bushing/ring that causes problems on the H42's in the BJ/FJ60's but I don't think it does. There IS a plastic cup at the bottom of the shifter though which is unique to the H55.

 

[Greg_B]

I don't recall if the H55 has the same plastic bushing/ring that causes problems on the H42's in the BJ/FJ60's but I don't think it does. There IS a plastic cup at the bottom of the shifter though which is unique to the H55.

Yes, there is the ring at the bottom of the ball (the ring sits in the cover), and the plastic cup on the end of the shifter.

hth's

gb

 

[Diescipel]

At the risk of just reiterating what has been said already, I can confirm that when I first got my BJ42 and had similar shifting problems, replacing the plastic cup and ring at the seat of the lever (per everyone's advice here on MUD) cured it--mostly. So I would check that first as Greg says. If you find it still shifts poorly in these gears, you may have worn syncros as Greg says (again lol). Was this an urban truck by chance? If so, the 1-2 syncros get the most wear in traffic and at stops. I find that mind does shift harder than I'd like, especially when cold. I have yet to do this, but I'm planning on replacing the dino tranny oil with Redline synthetic, which has special additives to help worn syncros. I used it in a my old Porsche 944 (with of course 1/2 the mileage of my 42) and it worked well at smoothing the shifting.

HTH
B

 

[brownbear]

My H55f has a similar feel, 1-2 is a bit harder. But not stiff. I actually got used to it. I did not not notice it after a few weeks. You may be feeling normal shift.

could be the urban theory. As my truck is a city truck mainly before I got it.

 

[DaveWest5150]

a quick check for a bad "ring" pull up on the shift lever while going thru the gears... If that helps. it is likley the ring and very simple to replace.

 

[jzilla]

When i had my 4 speed i could not shift into 2nd gear anymore turned out to the synchros, now i have a five speed going to 2nd doesnt seem too hard.

 

[Petzel]

Thanks guys. I have quite a few more evenings in the shop/brewskies to drink before i get it on the road again, but i will definately replace the plastic thingy and make sure the oil levels are OK.
Your answers give me a little piece of mind for now at least!

Joel

 

[knorrena]

Greg_b,

Do you recall any of the details about your oil bypass? In particular the size of the plug (diam. and thread pitch), or are you just using one ot the kits that are available?

Karl