Gears Won't Engage

[sloride]

Love this forum by the way.  I was able to put in a headlight & ignition key chime module today that I got at a pick-n-pull because of a posting from 'hornbrod'.  Thanks for that.......

 

Subject: 88mj, 4.0L,5sp

Anyway, here's the reason for this post..  My gears won't engage when shifting forward or reverse.   With engine running, the clutch pedal pushed to the floor and trying to shift to reverse you can feel and hear the gears as the stick moves closer to reverse.  The other gears won't reproduce the same result.  It feels like it goes into gear but won't go forward or reverse.  I put it in gear before starting engine and the result is the same.

 

What I've done recently.........  Swapped the original '88 Peugeot 5spd for an AX15 from a '96 Cherokee along with its transfer case.  The clutch master cylinder along with slave cylinder is new from Rock Auto for a '96 Cherokee...... The slave cylinder push rod didn't seem long enough to push the throw out arm but I went ahead and installed anyway.  '96 tranny and '96 slave cylinder should work correct in tandem.  Its possible I received the wrong part in the correct label box, but what are the odds........ 

 

Oh, the flywheel is '88 original that's been machined (I know I opened a can of worms with that statement.)  Clutch and pressure plate are also new. 

 

Thanks in advance for any ideas or guidance.

 

[Geonovast]

Your transfer case is in neutral.

[Eagle]

Oh, the flywheel is '88 original that's been machined (I know I opened a can of worms with that statement.)  Clutch and pressure plate are also new. 

 

There's your problem. You need a flywheel.

[Geonovast]

There is literally no way that the flywheel being machined could cause it to not move at all.  Slip, perhaps, but not make it unmovable.

 

Worst slipping clutch I ever saw was damn near wax paper.  I watched the owner put it in 5th, dump the clutch, and it would creep forward... but it still drove somewhat normally in 1st.

[Eagle]

There is literally no way that the flywheel being machined could cause it to not move at all.  Slip, perhaps, but not make it unmovable.

 

Worst slipping clutch I ever saw was damn near wax paper.  I watched the owner put it in 5th, dump the clutch, and it would creep forward... but it still drove somewhat normally in 1st.

 

He didn't say it won't move. He said he can't shift into first or reverse. I have the same problem with my '87 MJ, but I know I need a clutch and a master cylinder. Once moving, the other gears shift, but that's because (a) they have synchros, and (b) when both the engine side and the wheel side of the drive train are turning, it's easier for the synchronizers to match things up. When the engine is running and the vehicle is standing still, even if the clutch is only dragging a little bit you can't shift into first or reverse.

[Geonovast]

He didn't say it won't move.

 

It feels like it goes into gear but won't go forward or reverse. 

 

 

sloride,

You said you could "hear the gears" in reverse, but not the forward gears.  Is that just when putting it in reverse, or after it's in gear?  If you can hear a slight whining with it in gear and the truck's not moving, as well no grinding in the forward gears, then I'm certain your T-case is in neutral.

[MancheKid86]

 

He didn't say it won't move.

 

>It feels like it goes into gear but won't go forward or reverse. 

 

 

sloride,

You said you could "hear the gears" in reverse, but not the forward gears.  Is that just when putting it in reverse, or after it's in gear?  If you can hear a slight whining with it in gear and the truck's not moving, as well no grinding in the forward gears, then I'm certain your T-case is in neutral.

 

 

 

sounds legit enough,

if op doesnt post back that can be assumed problem :P

[sloride]

It could be the TC is in neutral. Now that you mention it, with the truck on jack stands, I was flipping that transfer case shift tang back and forth with my hand when messing with the driveshaft. The lever in the cab isn't installed yet for the transfer case so it wasn't obvious. When under the truck I could have put it in neutral without realizing it. I'll check this morning and let you know. Thanks.

[sloride]

Yep, that's what it was. Transfer Case was in neutral............ Shifted fine. Forgot what it was like to have a smooth shifting transmission in that truck.

 

Took it for a spin around the block. Two thirds around the block, at the bottom of a hill, I lost clutch pedal pressure and smoke started coming up through hole by shifter. Somehow clutch fluid got on the exhaust manifold close to the oxy sensor. Its not wet under the master cylinder or the line leading down the firewall. Thought the line going to the slave was touching the exhaust cylinder but its not. The fluid in the reservoir was half low. I filled it up and checked for pedal pressure and there is none. Think I might have a pin hole somewhere in the line. Any other ideas?....

[Eagle]

Yep, that's what it was. Transfer Case was in neutral............ Shifted fine. Forgot what it was like to have a smooth shifting transmission in that truck.

 

Took it for a spin around the block. Two thirds around the block, at the bottom of a hill, I lost clutch pedal pressure and smoke started coming up through hole by shifter. Somehow clutch fluid got on the exhaust manifold close to the oxy sensor. Its not wet under the master cylinder or the line leading down the firewall. Thought the line going to the slave was touching the exhaust cylinder but its not. The fluid in the reservoir was half low. I filled it up and checked for pedal pressure and there is none. Think I might have a pin hole somewhere in the line. Any other ideas?....

 

Either the line to the slave cylinder sprung a leak, or the slave cylinder itself spring a leak.