I am having problems with my wide ratio toploader 4 speed. It is very difficult to shift to second gear from first and down shifting it near about impossible. The gears don't grind it is just takes a lot of force to get the gear to engage. Sitting still the trans shifts fine. Before putting it in i replaced all the synchronizer keys and brass blocker rings. I had synthetic oil in it but had read that it is isn't good to use synthetic in a toploader so I changed it out for non synthetic. That seem to make it harder to shift. Any ideas....?
See if the throwout bearing is sliding properly. Also, see if the clutch is in perfect adjustment, and that the linkage isn't binding or loose. Good luck, hope it works out well for you.
I was thinking the same thing... Clutch out of adjustment... Sounds like it is only engaging partially. Bad/broken internals make it pop out of gear, not hard to get into gear. Did your source on the synthetic oil say exactly why you don't use it in a toploader??? I have never heard that. However, I have heard of folks using Redline and Royal Purple gear oil plenty. I very seriously doubt what you heard is true. Example: T56 trannys take Dex2, 'they' said never use synthetic or 'other'. My T56 synchros started acting terrible at 40k miles. I put Honda ATF in (very high quality refining and synthetic), and never had an issue after. It is like it magically replaced the synchros and smoothed shifting with nothing more than an oil change. Had the car, powershifting the whole way through another 35k miles. Also, I put liquid teflon all my engines/toploaders. Have gotten compliments on the cleanliness and lack of wear on the components from mechanics, including my diesels. My diesel mechanic said he had never seen a diesel in his life with 'clean' oil in it like my engines. Said the internals were like new. We're talking 200k mile Powerstrokes.
If the rear bearing (output shaft) is not seated properly the input and output shafts drag together and that can make shifting hard - especially in the lower gears. The reason that synthetic oils are not widely recommended is that the toploader is an "old tech" four speed and it needs a certain amount of drag in the synchros to mesh the gears properly. My information says it is NOT recommended but goes on to say that some have good results with it. Driver's choice in my opinion, so if it works for you then use it.
I adjusted the clutch some and shifting from first to second is a lot better but going from third to second or first is really hard unless the car is stopped or almost stopped. I did have a hard time getting the rear bearing installed on the output shaft. What would be the best way to check/fix that if it is a problem.
It was the instructions that came with the rebuild kit from David Kee that stated synthetic was not recommended. But like Paul said they also state that some have had good luck with synthetic in the trans.
shifter out of adjustment, could cause the detents and interlock pin to hang and cause hard shifting. if the 3-4 shift rod is not completely centered in neutral the detents and interlock pin will not allow the trans to be shifted in to 1 or 2 gear. you could also have a worn out bushing between the shifter and shift rod, or between the shift rod and shift arm on the side of the trans.
Even though the snap ring is in place the rear bearing may not be seated all the way? I had a really hard time getting that bearing on, I put it on far enough to get the snap ring on and quit.
Take the top off and give that bearing a rap towards the output end. Be sure to hit the inner race and not the outer race because you don't want to damage the bearing. I had to do the same to mine.
