Sloppy Transmission

[gt crazy]

My 72 opel has a very sloppy transmission, it still works and the car will drive down the road but will pop out of fourth. But today im getting 2 more opels 1 automatic and 1 manual. The opel im getting today has a very tight shifting pattern. I was wondering if i should take a chance and try using the transmission with the tight pattern and see if it works, or stick with my current one??

[BQS4]

I'd either check to see if all 4 bolts holding the trans to the bellhouse in your current car are tight first. If they are, then swap the other trans in.

[guyopel]

Just like Gene has said, check the trans. fluid also .
HTH
John

[kwilford]

And check the pilot bearing when you pull the transmission out. Other reasons are worn internal bearings, bent main shaft etc. which all are reasons to replace the transmission.

The most common cause is loose bolts between the tranny and bell-housing, and the next symptom is a piled-up tranny, as the oil leaks out between the tranny and bell-housing. Ask me how I know...

[GTJIM]

Is it the shifter that is 'sloppy' - or the gears inside the trans?

[gt crazy]

the shifter is really really sloppy. and i cant down shift from 3rd to 2nd for some reason. i have to push it in 1st before it will let me go to 2nd gear.

[GTJIM]

So the shifter is worn and sloppy .... and you are still using it when it obviously is malfunctioning - for goodness sake FIX IT!

Continuing to use it will just ensure that the gearbox suffers .... and dies

Take the bus or pushbike till it is repaired - Please

[opelnut10]

My 72 opel has a very sloppy transmission, it still works and the car will drive down the road but will pop out of fourth. But today im getting 2 more opels 1 automatic and 1 manual. The opel im getting today has a very tight shifting pattern. I was wondering if i should take a chance and try using the transmission with the tight pattern and see if it works, or stick with my current one??

In addition to loose bolts,pilot bearing and side tension spring on the shifter the transmission will jump out of 4th gear if the teeth for 4th on the input shaft has been rounded off. This is a result most of the time from the driver driving around with their hand resting on the shifter knob. It puts pressure on the syncro causing the teeth to wear down, in other words when you get it in fourth take you hand off the shift lever until you want to change gears.

[newman27]

...This is a result most of the time from the driver driving around with their hand resting on the shifter knob. It puts pressure on the syncro causing the teeth to wear down, in other words when you get it in fourth take you hand off the shift lever until you want to change gears.

Wow - thanks for the tip. I do this all the time and had no idea it could cause a problem...

Matt

[gt crazy]

well i aint really driving. (that long of distances) ill drive it around the neighborhood but she gets roudy after the engine starts to warm up. but what actually causes the shifter to have so much slop? i mean im surprised it still works.

[yellaopelgt]

In almost every circumstance I have ever seen with "sloppy" or tough to shift lever it was done because of 2 reasons. 1. bad/worn clutch plate or cable and unknowing driver has forced the gear shifter into place. 2. linkage has been bent up so bad from being forced into gear that it now has a mind of its own.
Could be bad synchros as well (dont think you could downshift if that were the case)but bottom line usually comes down to operator error.Have you tried to adjust the clutch and/or cable and see if it will shift easier?? That seems to be the normal on these Opels......adjusted mine a while back and now its effortlessly smooth!!!
food for thought...
Joe