grinding down shift?

[bigrob-CB7]

OK, It shifts fine any other gear up and back but if im doing over say 30mph,And I try to downshift into 2nd, it grinds like hell . But if I slow down to about 25mph for the most part its goes into 2nd fine. Is there anybody that might know what this is before I spend a ton of money taking it to the shop?

[tommi]

syncros are bad? try syncromesh tranny fluid? or tranny flush?

[bigrob-CB7]

just a flush? that simple?

[palinix]

just a flush? that simple?

It might not necessarily fix your problem, but it's worth a shot.

[bigrob-CB7]

ok ill try it thanks

[MY_1st_90CB7]

syncros are bad? try syncromesh tranny fluid? or tranny flush?

or just use what my BF used on his.....Royal Purple oil with half bottle of some stuff called Lucas oil stabilizer!

I drove it once after he changed it...and it shifts alot better than what it did before!

[deevergote]

Royal Purple and Lucas are good stuff... though the Lucas stuff is SO thick, it's scary to think about having that in the transmission!

Flushing the transmission and replacing the fluid with quality stuff is probably necessary (GM Synchromesh is great, Honda supposedly has a new MTF that does the same thing). Your synchronizers are most likely going (a common problem with older Honda transmissions... moreso with ones that have been driven hard). Replacing the synchronizers pretty much requires a full transmission rebuild (NOT cheap, and NOT easy to do by yourself). The fluid change will help, but it won't fix the problem. In time, the problem will come back. You then have the option of swapping in another transmission (can be had for $100-$1000, depending on what you get), or getting yours rebuilt (about $1000 from gear-speed.com, great stuff). The rebuild WILL last, whereas another used trans may have the same problem as soon as you bolt it up!

Regardless, I've been fending off failing synchros for years with good fluid and careful shifting. You should have plenty of time to prepare!

[SteveB]

Match the revs better, and she'll drop right in.

[deevergote]

^ That too Proper rev matching (and dare I say the term, double clutching?) is the way to do it on cars with synchronizer-less transmissions. Synchronizers are a fairly new technology in the history of automobiles.

[ilovemycb7]

Yeah, I know how you feel. Mine does that same thing in third, or at high rpm upshifting in 3rd. How simple is the tranny flush? I've never done anything mechanical with my car, but I want to learn. Is it something I could start with?

[killahsharksjc]

Mine worked fine till I replaced my clutch. Then I got a small lump like grind going into 3rd. I changed my MTF to the new Honda MTF and it really didn't make a difference in shifting or the grind. They say my syncros are worn but my clutch shifted way better with no grinds before I had it changed it. I wish I would of never got a new clutch. I think they put a cheap clutch in or they put a wrong clutch in.

[ilovemycb7]

That sucks, I wonder how a clutch could affect the actual shifts. Unless they did something on accident when down there and don't want to admit it. Even still odd. Sucks man.

[bigrob-CB7]

ya like I said I have never had a problem with any up shift just that damn 2nd gear down shift so.. I just wont downshift to 2nd ..thanks for all the feedback .

[oranger]

Synchros are going out... Yea mine does the same thing if it isn't shifted carefully into third, it also gets worse when its hot, but careful shifting and rev matching are very good advice. I would recommend either Honda MTF or Kendall GL-5 Synthetic fluid, that stuff is amazing. A new clutch shouldn't cause shifting problems, unless it isn't disengaging fully, but then you would feel grinds in all gears. So, yea try the fluid. Rebuilding a tranny isn't that hard if you know what you're doing, but don't attempt it if you don't know, cuz yea. Bad day, hey, if you do rebuild your tranny, but in new bearings too!

[killahsharksjc]

or just use what my BF used on his.....Royal Purple oil with half bottle of some stuff called Lucas oil stabilizer!

I drove it once after he changed it...and it shifts alot better than what it did before!

twins

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