MTX Problems

[K-Dawg]

I'm getting ready to install my built/Quaifed transmission. Its been sitting in a corner of the garage for about a year, and I just got it out to get it ready to install. Problem is that I can't get it to shift or get the input shaft to spin. The shift shaft just barely moves (Less than 1mm) and I can hear it moving something inside the transmission. The input shaft spun less than a quarter of a turn at first (with a grinding noise) and now only moves back and forth about 1mm (and makes a noise inside as well).

What's its problem? I don't want to go beating on the shift shaft and break something. Do I need to pour some fluid in and work it loose? Transmissions are one part that I really don't know.

 

[Rockledge]

Was it just rebuilt? Was it like that before you stored it away?

Sounds like someone may have to crack it open to take a look.

 

[K-Dawg]

I don't remember trying to get it to shift or spin the input shaft before, so I'm not sure. It was rebuilit a little over a year ago, IIRC.

 

[CerberuS]

trans should shift without oil. (or at least move.)

sorry to bring bad news , but this baby needs a re-open , prolly a fork not at its place....missing part i donno.

 

[TYSHO]

Put a clutch disc on the shaft, then use that as some leverage and see if it spins. If not, you need to open it up. Also, trying to move the shift shaft with just your hand is not that easy, try using a punch in the hole and act as if it's a T-handle. Doing this is not a powerful as having the shifting linkage connected and all of the available leverage, so don't think you're going to break it. It can possibly just be in gear, especially if you bought it used but with low miles.

 

[K-Dawg]

I got under my car and had no problem running it through the gears with just a couple fingers.

I had the thing rebuilt and its just been sitting since. Comparing it to the trans on my car, I think that its in neutral.

TYSHO, I'll try what you suggested. Looks like I'm going to be opening this baby up this weekend, though. Just what I wanted to do...

 

[K-Dawg]

Well with the help of a BFH and some brute strength, I managed to get things losened up. I thought that I should be able to spin the input shaft with it in gear, but even with a clutch disk on it I can't. I'm going to dump some **** in and work it around to see if it helps out any.

Now to decide if I want to put the thing in and take the risk of finding out that the thing's fubared.

 

[TYSHO]

Well with the help of a BFH and some brute strength, I managed to get things losened up. I thought that I should be able to spin the input shaft with it in gear, but even with a clutch disk on it I can't. I'm going to dump some **** in and work it around to see if it helps out any.

Now to decide if I want to put the thing in and take the risk of finding out that the thing's fubared.

No, do not put it in without knowing! Taking the case off to look is pretty simple. The only thing that's annoying is trying to put it back on and keeping the bearing shims from falling out of place or sliding over with the risk of being bent if you force the casing over it. Having to remove the tranny all over again is 20x more work and time worthy.

For a transmission sitting for a long time, the gearing can hang up and little and be real notchy to shift. If you haven't already, get something that can fit through the hole and use it as leverage to try shifting the gears. If it is in neutral, you should be able to twist it side to side with no problem. If it can't, try to go back and forth to see if it comes out of gear.

Do you have a picture of the shaft and it's position?

 

[K-Dawg]

I got it loose and it moves without a whole lot of effort. With a screwdriver in the hole I can get in and out of all the gears.

The input shaft spins in what I'm guessing is neutral and when the shift shaft it all the way in (2nd, 4th, Rev?), but won't spin in any of the gears when the shaft is pulled all the way out (1st, 3rd, 5th?).

So nothing special is required to just break open the case? I might do that to be sure everything is good.

I can take pictures, but I'm not sure what that's going to do.

 

[TYSHO]

I got it loose and it moves without a whole lot of effort. With a screwdriver in the hole I can get in and out of all the gears.

The input shaft spins in what I'm guessing is neutral and when the shift shaft it all the way in (2nd, 4th, Rev?), but won't spin in any of the gears when the shaft is pulled all the way out (1st, 3rd, 5th?).

So nothing special is required to just break open the case? I might do that to be sure everything is good.

I can take pictures, but I'm not sure what that's going to do.

If you can get it in and out of gears fine, it should be good to go. However, do you hear it going through the gears when you go through them?

When you pushed forward and back, then tested the input shaft, did you leave the shaft in the middle with the hole horizontal [side-to-side]? Or, did you actually select all 3 options in the forward position and the same for the back by turning the shaft to the left or right, then back or forward? If not, you were only able to spin it in 4th gear and 3rd was the one that didn't move. If that was the case, it sounds normal.


Edit: About the case coming apart, no there is not anything special needed. However, I wouldn't take it apart right now, unless you don't mind buying some sealent and doing the seal all over, because it sounds like there is nothing wrong. Just waiting to hear back on the shift shaft and hearing the gears engage.

 

[K-Dawg]

After playing with it some more, the input shaft won't turn when I put the shift shaft all the way in or out. Yes, I'm pretty sure all the gears are engaging; I can hear parts inside move and sometimes the input shaft turns as the gear engages. And yes I am able to rotate the shift shaft when it is in the middle position. Sometimes it sticks a little in a gear, but not much.

Is it normal that I can't turn the input shaft with it in gear?

Thanks for the help, BTW.

 

[TYSHO]

After playing with it some more, the input shaft won't turn when I put the shift shaft all the way in or out. Yes, I'm pretty sure all the gears are engaging; I can hear parts inside move and sometimes the input shaft turns as the gear engages. And yes I am able to rotate the shift shaft when it is in the middle position. Sometimes it sticks a little in a gear, but not much.

Is it normal that I can't turn the input shaft with it in gear?

Thanks for the help, BTW.

I'm trying to think, but I'm not too positive if it's suppose to spin easily with the gears engaged and out of the car, but I doubt it. For someone who has spent more time with these outside of the car, Gary M would be the man to hear from or ask, and maybe Beth [if she fiddles with the shafts].

Sounds like it's good to go, though.

 

[K-Dawg]

I guess I don't get to fiddle with enough shafts myself.

 

[93superSHO]

Neutral is when the shiftsaft is in the middle position meaning push it in til it stops and pull back ONE click and that's Neutral. Regarding "how to tell" Yes, you will have to put more effort in turning the input shaft when it is in gear cause your turning the the main cluster, 5th gear shaft, input shaft, and the diff. When it is in Neutral it should spin easily as the main cluster is "free wheeling". hope this helped

 

[K-Dawg]

Alright, after playing with it some more, I now think that the trans is stuck in reverse.

When I spin the input shaft in neutral, the differential spins in the opposite direction (which I calculated to be reverse) and I can't stop it from turning when I turn the input shaft. It does the same thing with reverse selected. Tomorrow I'm going to stick a halfshaft in it and see if i can stop it from spinning then.

When its in any other gear and I try to spin the input shaft, I get very little play and a solid metallic sound.

 

[SHOtime2511]

Alright, after playing with it some more, I now think that the trans is stuck in reverse.

When I spin the input shaft in neutral, the differential spins in the opposite direction (which I calculated to be reverse) and I can't stop it from turning when I turn the input shaft. It does the same thing with reverse selected. Tomorrow I'm going to stick a halfshaft in it and see if i can stop it from spinning then.

When its in any other gear and I try to spin the input shaft, I get very little play and a solid metallic sound.

oh god...i hope yours dosent turn out to be like Chris'

 

[AREA 91]

All the good MTX4 tranny's I've had, you could spin the input shaft by hand and through all the gears. I would crack it open, and take a look. All you need is SHO NUT's video, or a factory manual. Good lick.

 

[TYSHO]

Good luck with it! Maybe the lever for reverse broke, or came loose, and it's stuck in reverse, yet you can still shift in other gears.

 

[dantheman68]

who rebuilt it?!

where's Bizzy?


and is there any resemblence of RTV?

 

[SHOtime2511]

any updates Kelvin?