Super tight clutch issue…. (1 Viewer)

[sleepycruiser]

Driving the FJ40 today. It stays in the garage….so not super cold, but today it has been super difficult to get it to go into every gear. No grinding or anything, but feels like it is just ‘blocked’ or something. I was able to drive it 5 miles or so and cycling through the gears as much as possible and still the same issue. Clutch fluid was changed a few months ago…I’ll check and change that again. All fluids: diffs/tc/transmission also changed recently. When it is turned off it goes into gear with no issues through all gears. Any thoughts on what might be going on?

Dieseling slightly when coming to a stop…but I’ve had some random fuel issue for a few weeks that I haven’t quite nailed down…separate problem.

 

[Grayscale]

90wt GL4?

 

[sleepycruiser]

90wt GL4?

80w-90 GL5 I believe.

 

[too tall]

Clutch slave? Maybe it needs to be bled? sounds like it isn't actuating all the way as it should. I'd also check the firewall on the inside and see if there is brake fluid coming out of the rear of the master. That would indicate your master is starting to go bad.

 

[sleepycruiser]

Clutch slave? Maybe it needs to be bled? sounds like it isn't actuating all the way as it should. I'd also check the firewall on the inside and see if there is brake fluid coming out of the rear of the master. That would indicate your master is starting to go bad.

No oil on the firewall. Reservoir oil still looks very clean. I bled the clutch a few months ago due to fluid in there looong really bad. I’ll bleed it again and see if that makes a difference. I need to get under there anyway to try to put the skid plate on.

 

[Mark Jennings]

What year rig, 3 speed, 4 speed, column or floor.

If it disengages and idles without the clutch dragging, I doubt it’s a clutch or hydraulic issue……

So is this something that has been chronic, slowly getting worse or like, all of a sudden just won’t go into third.

 

[sleepycruiser]

What year rig, 3 speed, 4 speed, column or floor.

If it disengages and idles without the clutch dragging, I doubt it’s a clutch or hydraulic issue……

So is this something that has been chronic, slowly getting worse or like, all of a sudden just won’t go into third.

1964, 4 speed on the floor.

It has been fine until today. It drive fine 2 weeks ago. It is all gears, not just 3rd. 3rd just seems like the toughest. I can get it into gear but it takes some muscle or sometimes re-pressing the clutch pedal…and then also some muscle

 

[Mark Jennings]

When was the last time the gear oil changed? And the drain plug magnet inspected? Also you do know that GL-5 is a no-no with yellow metal in the gear box….GL-4 is the correct grade for transmissions with bronze synchro clutches.

 

[sleepycruiser]

When was the last time the gear oil changed? And the drain plug magnet inspected? Also you do know that GL-5 is a no-no with yellow metal in the gear box….GL-4 is the correct grade for transmissions with bronze synchro clutches.

I changed all oil a few months back and replaced all drain plugs with new ones.

What oil do you recommend for the transmission? I’ll swap it out to be safe.

 

[Mark Jennings]

Personally I’d start with changing the gear oil, check the magnet and stick my finger in the drain hole, see if there is anything interesting in the sump. Then, move on to removing the transmission top plate and make sure the shift gates are not overly worn.

 

[sleepycruiser]

Personally I’d start with changing the gear oil, check the magnet and stick my finger in the drain hole, see if there is anything interesting in the sump. Then, move on to removing the transmission top plate and make sure the shift gates are not overly worn.

Which gear oil do you recommend?

Taking the transmission plate off is over my pay grade. Just seems weird it just started.

 

[Grayscale]

Sta-Lube offers a GL4 (NAPA)

 

[Mark Jennings]

I use Sta-Lube (CRC product) 85-90….used to be able get a NAPA, or order from Amazon. Most Autozones or Oriley’s don’t carry GL-4 any longer.

 

[Mark Jennings]

Which gear oil do you recommend?

Taking the transmission plate off is over my pay grade. Just seems weird it just started.

There is a threshold of wear, in all mechanical assemblies that will one day be fine…..then one day just fail…..if you are now experiencing hard shifts, chances are you’ve exceeded that threshold, and are now on a path to more issues.

If you can push the clutch and put her in 1st, and she doesn’t roll (e.g. clutch drag) or the clutch isn’t slipping….then it’s in the transmission.

 

[sleepycruiser]

There is a threshold of wear, in all mechanical assemblies that will one day be fine…..then one day just fail…..if you are now experiencing hard shifts, chances are you’ve exceeded that threshold, and are now on a path to more issues.

If you can push the clutch and put her in 1st, and she doesn’t roll (e.g. clutch drag) or the clutch isn’t slipping….then it’s in the transmission.

I just put it in my driveway which is a ‘slight’ hill…nothing dramatic, put it in first, and it rolled fine with the clutch pushed in.

Also, is this the oil?

https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/SL_SL24239

 

[Mark Jennings]

Kind of a final thought here before you condemn the transmission….have you tried ‘double clutching’ into gear….upshift or downshift….if it double clutches smoothly into 3rd (up or down) but not when you just ‘shove her home’….then that’s a pretty good indication of failing synchro rings.

 

[Mark Jennings]

I just put it in my driveway which is a ‘slight’ hill…nothing dramatic, put it in first, and it rolled fine with the clutch pushed in.

Also, is this the oil?

https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/SL_SL24239

Yes it is….

 

[sleepycruiser]

Kind of a final thought here before you condemn the transmission….have you tried ‘double clutching’ into gear….upshift or downshift….if it double clutches smoothly into 3rd (up or down) but not when you just ‘shove her home’….then that’s a pretty good indication of failing synchro rings.

Any idea on cost of something like that to have done? Not something I could do.

 

[pb4ugo]

I just put it in my driveway which is a ‘slight’ hill…nothing dramatic, put it in first, and it rolled fine with the clutch pushed in.

Also, is this the oil?

https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/SL_SL24239

Wow, they're pretty proud of that.

My local Orielly has gl4 in stk. I don't recall the wt.

I think because it only happens in 1 gear, it's probably the trans. If it were to happen in all the gears then I'd suspect the clutch. Does the shifting get better once the tranny gets warmed up? Cold gear lube makes for stiff shifting.

 

[sleepycruiser]

Wow, they're pretty proud of that.

My local Orielly has gl4 in stk. I don't recall the wt.

I think because it only happens in 1 gear, it's probably the trans. If it were to happen in all the gears then I'd suspect the clutch. Does the shifting get better once the tranny gets warmed up? Cold gear lube makes for stiff shifting.

It happens in every single gear. I should have been more clear about that. It didn’t seem to get better, but I only drove it a total of around 8 miles round trip.