Tranny shifts fine when engine is not running but, shifts hard when engine is running

[CR50HC]

All, my 89 REX DX is giving me troubles. I just had a new clutch installed. Everything was installed properly and to spec. After installation, the car grinds while shifting into reverse and is very hard to shift into 1st. Other gears are also hard to shift into. Now, after researchig, I discovered it could be a problem with my clutch cable adjustment so, it was adjusted to spec to no avail... the shift problem remains. To go astep further, the tranny fluid was changed, and a new clutch cable was installed. Still same problem. Now, to confuse me that much more, the car shifts perfectly fine when the car is sitting still with the engine turned off. Does anyone have any ideas what could be going on and what a fix might be???

Thanks for your help folks!

Troy

[crxsirpr]

same thing hapened to me turned out to be that a bolt of the flywheel was loose and didnt let the clutch engage properly.

[CR50HC]

Interesting... So, you had the same symptoms? Hard shifting when the engine was running and normal shifting when the engine was off???

[TheSilentChamber]

I'v never seen a car that wouldnt shift when it was off. I'v had a car that the tranny was locked up and it would shift fine when off, there is nothing for it to catch on if its not spinning. dont even have to use the clutch. Just an intesting point...

[Hybrid1990crx]

Is it because the final drive is spinning when the car is running? And of course its not when its shut off.

[QuikShifter]

Originally Posted by TheSilentChamber

I'v never seen a car that wouldnt shift when it was off. I'v had a car that the tranny was locked up and it would shift fine when off, there is nothing for it to catch on if its not spinning. dont even have to use the clutch. Just an intesting point...

he!he! me too. after my swap, i had the same issue & turned out to be the clutch adjustment. even a burned-out clutch will allow you to engage when the engine aint runnin' as long as you are on level ground and car was parked with e-brake.

[CR50HC]

Well guys, it seems as if you are understanding my problem backwards. The car shifts fine when the engine is turned off. It shift very hard, and does not go into reverse when the engine is running. a new clutch cable was used, all adjustments made properly, the flywheel bolts all torqued properly, the proper kind and amount of oil was used for the tranny oil change, all bearings were lubricated, and all other torque figures observed. Is there anything else that could be the cause? I'm now two weeks without my REX..... Gas is killing me in my truck. help!