Lately it has been pretty hard to get my 96 Tracker Manual into 2nd sometimes, itll grind gears when down shifting a lot unless I guide it in nice and smooth. It has been leaking some gear lube for awhile, just put some leak stop in today. Today, I was doing a fast takeoff and put it into 2nd and it went in hard. After this hard gear change, my shifter is very floppy. I can pull it out of gear easily when driving without the clutch, the shifter seems really loose. It still drives. Anyone have any suggestions as to what it may be? If you wanna know any more info to tell me what you think, just ask. Thanks!
My dad thinks it may be the syncro, but why only 2nd gear downshifts does it grind? The leak stopper also is supposed to help with hard shifts, seems to have helped a lot.
It's sounds like 2 problems. The leak is an issue. Never let a manual trans get low on gear oil, if it does some of the bearings will not get lube. I don't think there is any damage because of the low fluid right now, just make sure it stays full.
The second problem is the shifter. There is a plastic bushing where the shifter goes into the transmission. Under hard shifting, it slips down from where it normally goes. It will not go into the trans, it just makes the shifter sloopy. You will need to access the top of the shifter. It has a round metal cap that holds it all in. All you need to do is push down on it (into the trans) & give it 1/4 a turn counter-clockwise, it will pop up when it's free. Once it's loose, you just lift it out. You will find a spring & a black platsic bushing. Since the bushing moved, it should come out easily. BTW - once the bushing starts slipping, it will never stay put. It is a bad design. On mine, I removed my bushing all together & installed a piece of heater hose that has the same diameter as the bushing, but I made it longer. I think I used 3/4" heater hose & I made it about an 1" long. You will see what I mean when you have it out. The factory bushing is just held in by tension, but the heater hose trick is long enough to stay in place by resting against the bottom flange. You will need to experiment a little when you cut the hose. You want the top of it to be flush with the trans shifter lip. If it's too high, the shifter will be hard to reinstall.
Don't forget to reinstall the spring.
I did this to my wifes Tracker about 5 years ago & it made the shifter more secure.
Good luck
