Hard to get into 1st gear after car warms up, gets hard to get into 1st gear sometimes (stop the smirk) Options

[buck toenges]

I have a 3.2 with a modified 4 speed 901 sideshift transmission. Car is easy to get into 1st gear when engine and tranny are cold. As the temperature rises it is harder to get back into 1st gear like at a stop light. Have to push harder to get into 1st gear. Sometimes I have to just go into 2nd gear at stop light.
What needs to be done? Do I need something like tangerine side shift alignment tool? Trying to figure out what is going on. Is heat affecting the shifting? is the linkage getting hot and changing the length of shift rod? Sorry to be so graphic.

Thanks,
Buck

[Shivers]

I have a 3.2 with a modified 4 speed 901 sideshift transmission. Car is easy to get into 1st gear when engine and tranny are cold. As the temperature rises it is harder to get back into 1st gear like at a stop light. Have to push harder to get into 1st gear. Sometimes I have to just go into 2nd gear at stop light.
What needs to be done? Do I need something like tangerine side shift alignment tool? Trying to figure out what is going on. Is heat affecting the shifting? is the linkage getting hot and changing the length of shift rod? Sorry to be so graphic.

Thanks,
Buck

Mine did the same thing. I had to adjust the clutch cable and it was not as bad. My 5 speed 901 does not like going into first anyway. So I had to watch the cable adjustment

[Patrick_139]

I have a 3.2 with a modified 4 speed 901 sideshift transmission. Car is easy to get into 1st gear when engine and tranny are cold. As the temperature rises it is harder to get back into 1st gear like at a stop light. Have to push harder to get into 1st gear. Sometimes I have to just go into 2nd gear at stop light.
What needs to be done? Do I need something like tangerine side shift alignment tool? Trying to figure out what is going on. Is heat affecting the shifting? is the linkage getting hot and changing the length of shift rod? Sorry to be so graphic.

Thanks,
Buck

Had same problem and I adjusted the clutch cable and added a 2nd nut on the end (It should have had 2 already). That's when I noticed the cable was slightly frayed and the deflection pulley had been damaged from the frayed cable. I drove it after I adjusted it, while waiting for new cable and new pulley to be delivered. The adjustment fixed the problem and then the new cable and wheel made the fix permanent or at least for the last year or so. Hope your issue is as simple as a cable adjustment.

[Geezer914]

At a stop light, I shift into second and then drop it into first.

[SO.O.C914er]

Yep I do kind of the same thing Geezer914. But I like to down shift coming up to a light
Then just before a complete stop drop it into first. Works like a charm. Never rev before putting it into first unless you want that ground pound of hamburger!
Drive it (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif) Paul

[targa72e]

I have a similar problem. Fine when cold. Rebuilt transmission with all new 1st gear parts. Gets worse as car heats up. If moving just a little bit drops in fine. Come to a complete stop when hot and it can be really hard to get in first. Even when hot can still get in reverse with no grinding( so don't think its clutch adjustment). Thinking something internally with internal shift lever that is slightly out of adjustment. Even putting in 2nd first does not help. Planning on pulling rear housing with car on lift and watching what is going on with someone else shifting and adjusting.

john

[porschetub]

I have a similar problem. Fine when cold. Rebuilt transmission with all new 1st gear parts. Gets worse as car heats up. If moving just a little bit drops in fine. Come to a complete stop when hot and it can be really hard to get in first. Even when hot can still get in reverse with no grinding( so don't think its clutch adjustment). Thinking something internally with internal shift lever that is slightly out of adjustment. Even putting in 2nd first does not help. Planning on pulling rear housing with car on lift and watching what is going on with someone else shifting and adjusting.

john

Wonder what oil the OP is running...makes a differance in older transmissions, some say the Swepco stuff that the 911 guys use isn't suited to the 914 but have no idea why ? .
I use GL5 and it's been fine but had early issues with new cable which was rubbish and a machined flywheel that required shimming of release arm etc.
What I did to start with :
New old stock clutch Saches disk and pressure plate,
911 flywheel, resurfaced but within spec from 914 LTD,
new cable roller with machined (.4mm off ) the spacer for the least rock in the roller,
replaced release bearing guides and ball cup bushing with spacer shim to suit flywheel , the spacer was just under 1mm from memory,
replaced input shaft seal, the original leaked after 200 odd miles, lesson learned ,
replaced "new" cable as not smooth and continued stretching, a Gemo cable from Pelican ??,
replaced with original cable and spot on ,
Really the sum of all new parts working together IMO ,after that shifter setup is up to the OP but the most important part ,cheers.