How do I get smoother shifting?

[BBQ BOY]

I drove my neighbors 76' FJ40 the other day with a 350 and original 4 speed tranny. I couldn't help but notice how silky smooth shifting the cruiser was. Very quiet and silky. Mine on the other hand is loud and rough. The shifter has a good bit of play in it and you can feel it shifting into fear. His shifts seemlessly(sp). VERY NICE. How can I get mine to be more enjoyable instead of feeling like I am shifting my dads John Deer?

 

[desertguy]

Double clutch it all the time you drive, break something and upgrade

 

[dgangle]

First of all, what do YOU have? That's a pretty important piece of info to have left out.

420/465? WWII-era truck transmission...get used to it

 

[Coolerman]

I believe he has a 77 which should also have the 4 speed.

Could you explain more about it? Have you changed the tranny fluid recently to see how much metal debris there is? How old is the clutch/pressure plate/throw out bearing?

 

[malcb]

Do a transmission swap late one night?

Are you comparing apples for apples ie are the gear boxes the same, I have never driven the LC three or five speeds but most stock 4 speeds have seemed fairly equal.

 

[Trollhole]

Do a transmission swap late one night?

Are you comparing apples for apples ie are the gear boxes the same, I have never driven the LC three or five speeds but most stock 4 speeds have seemed fairly equal.

No worn ones drive like an old truck. Newer ones with good bearing and shift pins shift much smoother.

 

[1911]

My bone-stock, original drivetrain 1980 40 shifts like buttah - never seen a manual tranny on anything that shifts as smooth and positively as this truck. May be that I just lucked out, but my 4-speed shifts like a dream.

 

[Gusb]

With all it's other problems, my original 4sp (78/108k miles) - shifts really nice. Even when I got it and the PO had not put oil in the transfer for a while it still seemed great, slips into 1st, when rolling to a stop, etc. I think it shifts better than my old 4sp/80 mini truck ever did - even when it was new.

 

[Pete]

I drove my neighbors 76' FJ40 the other day with a 350 and original 4 speed tranny. I couldn't help but notice how silky smooth shifting the cruiser was. Very quiet and silky. Mine on the other hand is loud and rough. The shifter has a good bit of play in it and you can feel it shifting into fear. His shifts seemlessly(sp). VERY NICE. How can I get mine to be more enjoyable instead of feeling like I am shifting my dads John Deer?

My experience with hard-shifting Harleys and Cruisers as well has indicated that clutch problems were often the cause. Check that your clutch isn't dragging (i.e. master and slave cylinders are OK - check fluid level), check the pedal height adjustment and the clutch fork rod adjustment.

 

[amaurer]

My bone-stock, original drivetrain 1980 40 shifts like buttah - never seen a manual tranny on anything that shifts as smooth and positively as this truck. May be that I just lucked out, but my 4-speed shifts like a dream.

With all it's other problems, my original 4sp (78/108k miles) - shifts really nice. Even when I got it and the PO had not put oil in the transfer for a while it still seemed great, slips into 1st, when rolling to a stop, etc. I think it shifts better than my old 4sp/80 mini truck ever did - even when it was new.

x3. I'm amazed at how nicely my four speed shifts even after 180k miles. I even prefer it to some new vehicles - the way it just :: snick ::s into gear brings a smile to my face. Prior to seeing the light I had a lot of bad luck with Jeep SR-4 boxes which, if they had over 100k miles, were total crap (maybe they were always total crap)

My experience with hard-shifting Harleys and Cruisers as well has indicated that clutch problems were often the cause. Check that your clutch isn't dragging (i.e. master and slave cylinders are OK - check fluid level), check the pedal height adjustment and the clutch fork rod adjustment.

x2. After my clutch job I found that if you have the slave rod dragging shifting gets irritating, or impossible.

 

[BBQ BOY]

Sorry. I have a 77' 4 speed. I replaced the clutch master and had my pedals adjusted. It improved some but still rough. I guess it shifts "oK" but like I said it is nothing like my neighbors. I may be comparing apples to oranges. I need to call him and see if he has had a new clutch put in or a new transfer case.
Sometimes when I am at a stop and I put it into gear I hear and feel a thump. Some effort is made to put it into gear. His takes zero and I mean zero effort. I wondered if I was even moving it.

 

[jagota]

Sorry. I have a 77' 4 speed. I replaced the clutch master and had my pedals adjusted. It improved some but still rough. I guess it shifts "oK" but like I said it is nothing like my neighbors. I may be comparing apples to oranges. I need to call him and see if he has had a new clutch put in or a new transfer case.
Sometimes when I am at a stop and I put it into gear I hear and feel a thump. Some effort is made to put it into gear. His takes zero and I mean zero effort. I wondered if I was even moving it.

Wow! I have never had a Cruiser 4 speed that didn't shift effortlessly. I don't even use the clutch 1/2 the time.

Have you checked the fluid level? Sounds like it may be low or at some point was run w/o oil and did some damage.

 

[GUITARFELLO]

Make sure that you shifter rods are tight, with no play. Second my three speed had a bad fork bearing and it was replaced a couple months prior to me getting my 40. If they are ok, and if you have had it serviced regularly, I would take the tranny out and replace the input bearing and synchros. You might try putting in a bottle of "manual gearbox" trick shift fluid stabilizer for a temporary fix. I wish I had a synchro'd tranny myself!

 

[malcb]

Sometimes when I am at a stop and I put it into gear I hear and feel a thump. Some effort is made to put it into gear. His takes zero and I mean zero effort. I wondered if I was even moving it.

Sounds like a dragging clutch, is it the same if you just run through the gears with the engine off and stationary?

 

[malcb]

No worn ones drive like an old truck. Newer ones with good bearing and shift pins shift much smoother.

Never driven a new one, newest was probably 5 years years old, troopie diesel with 60000+ KM on the clock all on gravel roads, forgot about that one, might have been a 5 speed?

All the others have been similar milage and age but I remember being in a brand new HJ45 with plastic on the seats, never got to drive that though (avatar pic).

 

[Pin_Head]

Sometimes when I am at a stop and I put it into gear I hear and feel a thump. Some effort is made to put it into gear. .

Like others have said, this indicates that your clutch is dragging and not releasing completely. Adjust (lengthen) the rod at the slave cylinder.

 

[Poser]

Or replace your leaking hydraulic components for the clutch....