Very difficult to shift into 1st/2nd when stopped (H55f)

[Bryan062087]

Hi,

Over the last month, it has been increasingly difficult to shift my h55F into 1st/2nd when stopped and has gotten to the point now where I almost cannot shift into gears if I'm not at least rolling a little bit. For a while only 1st was hard to get into, now 2nd is as well. If i'm moving, I seem to be able to get into gears fine. Any help would be much appreciated as this is my only vehicle. Gets much worse after the first few minutes of driving. Oil level appears to be correct. Clutch master cylinder reservoir is full of fluid. Master cylinder and slave cylinder are about 5 years old or so. Slave cylinder is the nonadjustable type.

Thanks for any help.

 

[OSS]

The transmission input shaft pilot bearing could be binding, preventing the transmission from fully spinning down when stopped.

The hydraulic system may not be pushing the slave push rod far enough to fully disengage the clutch. If the clutch disc is touching the flywheel at all, the transmission will spin and gears will grind when trying to shift at a stop .

Check the clutch actuation:

• Remove the clutch inspection cover under the truck and see if the clutch is spinning at idle when the clutch pedal is fully depressed

As a workaround, when at a stop, try shifting into 4th gear first- then quickly shift up to 1st

 

[Spook50]

I've noticed mine is a bit dodgy on occasion when shifting into reverse from being parked. On other manuals I would shift into 1st and then into reverse and it would pop right in, but sometimes my H55F tries to resist. I'm not sure if this is the nature of the beast, because everything else is spot on as far as operation, or if there is something up. Once it's in reverse and my truck is rolling though it stays put like it should.

 

[Godwin]

May have a worn shifter seat bushing. That would be a cheap and easy item to replace and if that does not cure the issue you've at least ruled out the bushing.

If the pilot bearing is seized and needs to be replaced that's a major job.

 

[OSS]

when shifting into reverse from being parked.

Push in the clutch all the way and count to five before shifting into reverse. The reverse gear doesn't have a synchronizer and it takes a while for all those heavy gears to stop spinning.
Every time you grind the gears trying to shift into reverse too quickly, metal particles get ground off the gear and end up contaminating the oil.

if you grind it enough, ill look like this: (after 25 years and 220,000 miles)

 

[Spook50]

Push in the clutch all the way and count to five before shifting into reverse. The reverse gear doesn't have a synchronizer and it takes a while for all those heavy gears to stop spinning.
Every time you grind the gears trying to shift into reverse too quickly, metal particles get ground off the gear and end up contaminating the oil.

if you grind it enough, ill look like this: (after 25 years and 220,000 miles)

View attachment 2394743View attachment 2394744

That would explain it. No grinding since I don't try to force it, but I didn't realize there's no reverse gear syncro.

 

[Ambrew]

Hi,

Over the last month, it has been increasingly difficult to shift my h55F into 1st/2nd when stopped and has gotten to the point now where I almost cannot shift into gears if I'm not at least rolling a little bit. For a while only 1st was hard to get into, now 2nd is as well. If i'm moving, I seem to be able to get into gears fine. Any help would be much appreciated as this is my only vehicle. Gets much worse after the first few minutes of driving. Oil level appears to be correct. Clutch master cylinder reservoir is full of fluid. Master cylinder and slave cylinder are about 5 years old or so. Slave cylinder is the nonadjustable type.

Thanks for any help.

Did you ever find the cause? I have the same issue when hot, Pilot bearing ok, Syncros ok, and new shifter bushing.... still once hot cannot get into 1st/2nd...

 

[Bryan062087]

I did not figure it out unfortunately. I was thinking pilot bearing, but I haven't checked it yet.

 

[Hammer45]

I did not figure it out unfortunately. I was thinking pilot bearing, but I haven't checked it yet.

Wait. The original post was 5 yrs ago right? So it has kept going for all that time or did you follow the 5 second rule or did life just happen and it hasn’t been driven much lately? Or did the dates mess up on mud? I am hoping to put in my H55 in the next couple of months and I’m trying to learn as much as I can.

 

[Bryan062087]

Kept going all this time but haven't driven too much. After a lot of stop an go traffic, I still have problems getting into 1st

 

[RevISK]

Every now and again mine resists going into first, a wee rev always does the trick.

 

[Hammer45]

Kept going all this time but haven't driven too much. After a lot of stop an go traffic, I still have problems getting into 1st

Thanks for the update.

 

[Hammer45]

Every now and again mine resists going into first, a wee rev always does the trick.

Hearing these concerns makes me nervous cuz I’m not a pro and no fallback position for help when I do mine by myself. I’ll just go slow and pester everyone up in here.

 

[RevISK]

Hearing these concerns makes me nervous cuz I’m not a pro and no fallback position for help when I do mine by myself. I’ll just go slow and pester everyone up in here.

Dm me for my number if you want.
I’m no pro but having done 3 transmissions does give me a bit of a leg up for what you might need.

 

[Brybrys1978]

I helped my buddy with similar issues resolve his. We discovered that his master/slave was going out, so we replaced both and it solved the issue. We determined it was bad master/slave by pumping the clutch several times before shifting it into gear because a valve was being bypassed due to a minor internal leak that you will not be able to see externally. Got him temporarily back on the road by adjusting his slave linkage to allow further extension until he could replace the slave and master (you traditionally replace both in pair like you do brake components).

Report back on if the pumping of the clutch resolves it temporarily before each shift and then you’ll have your solution.

 

[Hammer45]

Dm me for my number if you want.
I’m no pro but having done 3 transmissions does give me a bit of a leg up for what you might need.

Thanks!

 

[Spook50]

Hearing these concerns makes me nervous cuz I’m not a pro and no fallback position for help when I do mine by myself. I’ll just go slow and pester everyone up in here.

That's what we're here for!