Down shifting from 3rd to 2nd

@Bobby D posted:

Ok, made a slight adjustment to shifter plate and drove to gas station.  On my way there I tried to down shift to 2nd with a pre-rev and got some grinding sounds, almost like it was trying to  go into reverse.  I filled the car up and on my way back, when I was turning into the neighborhood, I down shifted to 2nd and still didn't want to go in gear.  I continued down the street and kept down shifting with a pre-rev and all of a sudden it started to go into 2nd.  I did it about 5 more times and it seem ok.  I have no idea why it all of sudden it decided to comply.

@Bobby D, do what Jim says.  It sounds like it's loose enough to move around a bit on you.

can u loctite the screws with the blue stuff

Carefully.... with the blue stuff:6

Ok I torqued them down pretty good.

I'd use spring lock washers and good old torque, not standard cut/spring type.

I also wouldn't use Loctite on there, even blue.

Drove it some more yesterday.   Its not as bad as it was but still happen periodically it allow the down shift to 2nd.  I changed the trans fluid last year.  I used the Valoline 80w-90 gear oil.  Is there something better?

Just to rule out a possibility:  Check the transaxle mounts (motor mounts) to assure they are not shattered, cracked, torn or loose.  If so, the transaxle can torque around up/down and side/side during acceleration and deceleration.  A symptom might be erratic smooth shifting during various torque instances (ae:  acceleration vs. deceleration) because shifter alignment is moving all over the place.

If you have red urethane transaxle mounts, I'd almost bet they are shattered.  If not, they will be.

PS: It is not your gear oil.

That^^^^

Ok I will check the mount out.

Mount bushing are black and I don't see any cracks.  I replaced the mount at the front nose of transmission last year as it was crack and moving.  I replaced it with one of those rhino mounts.

A rhino mount should outlast the rest of the car.  That's probably not it.

Also, and just because my role is to serve as a cautionary tale:

Are you 100% certain your throwout bearing is good? You had the issue with the noise during clutching, and now this. I exploded a throwout bearing and the symptoms started just like what you're describing.

^^^^  Oooo, yeah, what he said!

Stan

I have no idea of the status of the throw out bearing.  The noise was coming from the clutch pedal hook.

I posted previously that I was having some shifting issues and while under the car working on something else I notice I was missing one bolt off my trans mount and the other was 2-3 threads away from falling off as well.

Once tightened, my shifting issues went away. I don’t know if my Spyder experience relates to a Speedster, but who knows.

And FWIW, my trans feels like a whole different ball of wax with Motul Gearbox (mineral gear lube) vs anything they sell at O’PepZoneBoys.

Good for you for finding those issues before it was too late.

I have a routine, now,  to check all the bolts of the undercarriage yearly.  Why? Because I found things loose and a missing bolt once on a rear shock where the shock was floating around.  Suffice it to say, now, I make sure the whole underneath is checked.   DDrivers you never think about that but these cars, well you need to do it.

Dlearl

I might give that gear lube a try.  Did you use the 80w90?

Swepco is a really good product for smooth shifts choose the appropriate dyno or synthetic one

@Bobby D posted:

Dlearl

I might give that gear lube a try.  Did you use the 80w90?

Yeah.