On my way down to Fredericksburg last week, my transmission randomly started popping out of 5th gear. It progressively got worse, to the point that even if I was holding it in gear, I could feel the shifter fighting against me to get out of gear. I checked the shift linkage, clutch, and have now pulled apart the tranny, and still nothing looks damaged. The ONLY damage I've been able to find I took pics of and will post shortly. Not sure which gear it is, but the "top" of the teeth is a bit chewed looking. I don't know why that would cause pop-out (if that is 5th gear), as it certainly is not severe. Anyone have any ideas, because I'm at a loss.

 

post up the picture
if it doesn't engage all the way, it could be the problem

 

What does the mainshaft upper bearing feel like?

 

with your symtoms, it's gonna be hard to eye out the problem if you aren't familiar with transmission parts because it's very subtle and you have to know what to look for...

check the synchro spring (thin paper clip sized steel ring around the brass blocking ring/synchros) and make sure it's not hacked off. notice they are over all your blocking rings. that is most likely the cause. you could check the detent ball for 5/R fork which is located on the reverse idler gear pivot arm which isn't likely to ever come out.

*if your synchro spring is in place, check to make sure it's not squared off on the outer edge. it should be distinctly round (take note of all the other synchro springs-they should be round).

if you check good for the above, you may have a slightly bent selector tab for the 5/R fork on the selector mechanism. the bend would be holding the fork toward reverse and away from 5th gear...unlikely though.

check those things and report back.

 

its your throwout bearing

 

Well, turns out apparently low fluid causes that symptom. I changed out the 5th gear syncro hub (?) and spring ring anyway, but it didn't look any different than mine. After reinstallation, no problems. The weird thing though is that now 1st gear is really hard to get into gear, whereas before it wasn't. I didn't touch that either, so...I dunno.

And no, it wasn't my TO bearing.