Gearbox problem?

[ChuckH]

On our last trip to the sand dunes I was having problems getting my truck into 3rd gear sometimes while in 4 low and in a hurry to accelerate. At first I figured I was just a dumbass, but then Rrdstarr drove my truck and had the same thing happen. Well, I kind of blew it off, but now it's done it a couple times in 2H. Kind of a problem when I'm trying to get moving real quick and then miss a shift.

Anyway, here's a better description of what's happening. I'm shifting from 2nd to 3rd, but can't access 3rd. I don't really know how to explain it except it's like someone throwing in a wall while I'm shifting. It doesn't grind or anything (like it would if the clutch weren't releasing), just won't go in. The shifter just barely moves away from the neutral spot. I can still access 4th or any other gear at this point; just not 3rd. If I hit another gear and then go back to 3rd or just release pressure and try again it will slip in in fine.

I've also noticed that sometimes my gearbox feels really sloppy and slushy. The shifter feels like it's got a bunch of dead fish hanging at the bottom end or soemthing. It's really weird. I noticed that it was like this just before my last incident with 3rd gear.

So, I'm thinking maybe my linkage is binding up or soemthing along those lines. Has anyone else experienced this or have any thoughts? Of course I'm past my warranty by quite a bit, so I'm up shit creek if anything is really wrong that I can't fix myself.

Thanks!

[Schludwiller]

Synchro off for 3rd maybe? Does it happen only at specific RPM's

Although I'm thinking it's the dead fish. The manual recommends removing those every 5,000 miles.

[RedX]

Yep....sounds like a carrier bearing. My Crew Cab (before I traded for the X) had the same tell-tale signs. They had to pull the tranny and replace the linkage inside. The difference was, my truck would not go into first gear at all. I could start off in second...but no first.

But as Schlud said...could also be a synchronizer?

[ChuckH]

Hmmm, well it won't be getting fixed until parts start falling out then!

It went all weekend without a hitch when we went 4 wheeling. No problem even when in low range, but I wasn't working it too hard on the 2nd to 3rd shift.

Maybe it will hold out until 100K or so and I'll just have it rebuilt and the clutch replaced at that time.

[Schludwiller]

Originally posted by ChuckH
Hmmm, well it won't be getting fixed until parts start falling out then!

Remind me to stay ahead of you on the highway then!