Yes, this should probably be on the main forum, but someone would insist that the make/model matters and then it would get pulled. I have a Jaguar full synchro 4-speed OD trans attached to my Jaguar engine and both are outside of the car on a stand. When separated, the trans shifted easily through the gears and into neutral. All gears looked very clean inside. Fresh oil, gaskets, etc. I bolted the trans/bell to the engine and now I can only go between 2 gears (1st-2nd or 3rd-4th, not sure which). No neutral. No Reverse. No side to side/left to right shifting. Using the starter, the tailshaft spins and putting the shifter in different positions does not change that, so no neutral. Is there anything I can do to check this before pulling the trans off? Diagnosis? Not like that's a tough job, but still a PITA. New clutch friction disk and pressure plate fitted using the centering tool, resurfaced flywheel, new throwout bearing, new clutch slave cylinder connected to the fork. I’ve never had a manual trans that I couldn’t pop into neutral without using the clutch, but I assume something is hung up, like the throwout bearing, but I can’t imagine what would keep me from moving gears. I also asked on a Jag forum, but from past experience, 30% will say their mechanic handled everything, 30% will say I should have left everything original and can't answer the question and I might get a response from the rest. Responses are usually faster and better on the HAMB.
Sounds like you were into the transmission, since you inspected stuff and replaced gaskets. When did the shifter last work...was it before you opened it up? before you bolted on the bellhousing? or bolted the bellhousing to the engine? or did you not really notice? Just looking for more info that might give us a clue. and how hard is it to remove the top cover and shifter assembly with the transmission attached to the engine?
Yep something got jacked up between here and there .... I'm thinking usually need to pull the shifter when removing the trans. When I remove the shifter on my 1950 Dodge 3 on the tree ... easy to get it jacked up and basically need to get underneath and put both shift arms in neutral, then it shifts fine again. If the arms get out of sync with each other, then it will shift exactly like yours. I get 1rst & reverse no neutral. .... I'm thinking same with yours. I think while the shifter was disconnected, the arms got out of sync .... you will need to remove the cover and wiggle things around while you figure out how it works .... all you want to do is get it in neutral then connect the shifter .... it should be fine then. Of course I have been wrong before.
So, the trans was out of the car when I got the car. No engine. I had the trans on the bench, opened it up and everything looked practically brand new. The car the trans came out only had around 60k miles on it. I cleaned and painted the outside, replaced a few gaskets and filled it with oil. I replaced the bushings and shims at the shifter base. Everything shifted normally. 1-N-2-N-3-N-4 and R. Easy Peasy. I then bolted it up to the engine. I can't imagine how anything internally could have been rearranged during that process. FWIW, removing the top cover is just a handful of bolts. Is it possible that the input shaft splines and friction disc splines got jammed? I can't see how that would affect the gears though. Additional info, my teenage kids helped me install it, but again, all of this was on a stand, so as easy as it gets. I used alignment bolts to make sure it went on straight, too.
So... I'm an idiot. I just went out to mess around with it some more. The rubber bushing at the end of the shifter was absorbing all the movement and not allowing me to shift gears. I tried with something else and now it shifts. It's all a little stiff, but seems to be ok. Sorry, and thank you!
We all have things that happen, don’t feel bad. Glad it’s fixed. It’s been almost 60 since I worked on an E jag with the 3 SU’s. I’d forgotten what a pretty sight that is.
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