Working on my 98 accord with a stock engine and manual transmission. I had a problem where it would often be hard to put it into first while at a complete stop. Double clutching (release clutch pedal then push again) always worked. It would then easily go in. In searching it seems like there are two likely causes. One is due to the clutch. Low fluid/leaking/needs to be bled ect. The other is a bad first gear synchro. The trans is already pulled out of the car now for an engine swap and I am trying to decide if I should take it apart and replace synchros before I put it back in. Since double clutching always worked, does it sound like a gearbox issue or a clutch issue? Thanks.

 

If it was clutch-related, I gotta think it would do it no matter what gear.

 

It's not a gear issue. It sounded like you have a bad Master cylinder or a leaking slave cylinder.

 

Clutch problem. First I would check to see if the slave or master are leaking down as the clutch is held to the floor. I think to check this you can put it in gear, car stopped, clutch to the floor. Hold the clutch in and see if the clutch starts to engage. If it's not leaking, im not really familiar with these cars, but it may need a little adjusting to get it to engage further. The pushrod on the slave or the fork pivot could be worn (if there is one.)

During my truck engine swap I had to make a clutch pedal push-rod. When the rod was just a little too short it wouldn't want to go in first or reverse when stopped, but would go in the other 4 fine. The pushrod being too short cause the same as a leaking MC/SC.

 

Thanks for the replies guys. Sounds like the best thing to do would be to put the trans back in and investigate the clutch hydraulics if I still have issues. Ill let you know what the issue turns out to be. Might be a few days though because need to wait on some parts to finish the swap.

 

Do first gear and reverse even have synchros?

I am thinking it's the clutch pressure plate that's worn.

 

First has a syncro, reverse does not.