M35a2 1973 Shifting Troubles - Nothing BUT 5th works

[hbrazell0003]

I am a new owner of a 1973 M35a2 and it has been fun tuning it up to get it running. I finally got it cranked and moving but I played **** getting the stick to shift into ANY gear. I had to have a pickup slow pull the deuce until i could work the stick and clutch to allow a gear to catch. The downside is only 5th engaged. I figured the truck would stall going straight to 5th but it did not. I had limited room to run the truck, since it is not road worthy yet, and was only able to down shift to 4th. I could not get it to engage any other gears!! I am new to the MV world and i spent hours searching other thread before posting, but I feel I have not seen any other issues quite like this one! Any advice to get my truck rolling smoothly would be greatly appreciated. View attachment Truck in 5th.mov

 

[porkysplace]

Not that it should be related to in not shifting in 1-4 that video looks like you have it in low range on the transfer case.
Have you read the -10 TM ?
You might have to pull the top of the transmission off and see what it looks like inside , could be a broke shifter fork .
TM9-2320-209-10-1.pdf
TM9-2320-209-10-1 Operation, Installation and Reference data for the M35 series, Operator Level.
TM's for the Deuce

Edit ; After re-reading your post what do you mean by " tuning it up to get it running " ?
Is the clutch slipping ? How much clutch pedal travel do you have when it does engage ?
It could be the clutch is way out of adjustment also .

Can you get it in gear with the truck shut off , then start the truck with the clutch depressed ?
What RPM is the truck idling at ?

This is a good thread on transmission repairs ;
M35A2 transmission problem

Transmission TM's;
TM9-2520-246-34-1.pdf
TM9-2520-246-34-1 Direct Support and General Support Maintenance manual for Transmission 3053A.

TM9-2520-246-34P.pdf
TM9-2520-246-34P Direct Support and General Support Maintenance Transmissions, Transfers, PTO's.

 

[LiveFreeOrDieTryn2B]

I'd check everything posted above and pull the inspection plate on the bottom of the bell housing as well to check the throw out bearing and shift arm and see if the clutch assembly is soaked with oil. The only adjustment for the clutch is the pedal linkage arm. If you can post some pics or video and we ll try to help.

 

[hbrazell0003]

I have not been back out to the property but at the time i could not get into any gear with the truck off. It took having it pulled slowly to pop it into 5th. once we started rolling in 5th , 4th opened up but that was as far as we got. We could not get 1-3 to open. I am not a mechanic so dropping the trany would be a nightmare.
The clutch is not slipping but i did initially have it in low. Still had the same issues once i put the truck in high. I do not remember what the truck idles at, i have to go back and mess with it some more. I am currently just trying to move the truck from the property it is on to my house so i can start really working on it!

 

[gimpyrobb]

Maybe you should think about selling it.

 

[dmetalmiki]

Welcome to the site hobby friendships, And Hard Work! with advices so that you can 'Attend the events to come'.

FIRST>Have somebody help you to: Check if the clutch actually works in that the actuating lever into the gearbox (Underneath) Is moving when you depress the clutch down.
Then
1)remove the floor pan, 2) Remove the top of the gearbox complete with the gear lever3) Study the inside of the gearbox with a LAMP. Rusty, bent, or broken parts? (Include the gear lever).
4) Any oil in the box?
5) Try to slide the selectors A LITTLE..to see if they move. (Nahh! don't bother doing that..just "report back" to us what you see so far).

(And) BEFORE you do all that. Report to us: (a) How long was this truck standing (if at all), And (b) MOST importantly, Was it (to your knowledge) DRIVEN at any time BEFORE or when YOU had it in LOW RANGE? (I'm betting) Backwards and forwards to shift test or park it? 'A short distance'.

Careful thought here please, And just list the answers methodically. We are here to help. But you must be concise. It is After 1 a.m. here i'm going to snoozies! I will catch your answers later. (I'm sure that by then others will have chipped in). Good luck, (and) 'get at it'.

 

[tie6044]

I am not a mechanic so dropping the trany would be a nightmare. !

It's really not that bad if you have to pull it, my 15 year old did one for me a couple months ago outside here in MN. If you can get a tall enough jack to lower it down works the best or rig up a hoist through the floor.

 

[porkysplace]

I still would say the first thing to do is check the clutch like LiveFree suggested , then if that's good pull the top off the transmission and see what's going on inside . They are a really simple designed transmission to work on , between the TM's and SS support it should be a easy task.

 

[LiveFreeOrDieTryn2B]

A chain fall and a couple of good 4"x4"posts about 3' or 4' long will do it. Id just open the windshield and have the cab top off and you can drop it that way and lift it back in that's how I did it very easy job.

 

[porkysplace]

A chain fall and a couple of good 4"x4"posts about 3' or 4' long will do it. Id just open the windshield and have the cab top off and you can drop it that way and lift it back in that's how I did it very easy job.

Unless it's a bad clutch or throw out bearing , there is a good chance it can be fixed without pulling it. He needs to get into the TM's and do some reading so he has a idea how it works , then hit the troubleshooting section . Then dig into it .

Edit ; When you start to take this apart , take pictures before you take each thing apart (everybody's got a camera in their phone these days) then take pictures as you take it part .
Then post your pictures (so we can look for damage) and questions on here and there should be plenty of help to walk you through fixing this.

 

[cattlerepairman]

I am not a mechanic so dropping the trany would be a nightmare.

I had never worked on a manual transmission before (ok. clutch jobs) but read up on how to do the 5th gear OD modification and install. I was ok taking it out (came out with the engine) and ok opening it up but terrified pressing the gears off the shaft and putting the new ones on. It made for a very proud me when it all went together and worked!

Taking the top off and checking if the gears inside slide as they should and checking the shift forks on the underside of the tranny lid can be revealing. Maybe the shift forks are bent from someone wailing on the stick...easy fix. Think simple things first. If you are able to undo eight or so hex bolts, you can do this.

 

[hbrazell0003]

I appreciate the advice. Ill hopefully be back at it this weekend and take plenty of pictures.

 

[dmetalmiki]

Why not answer my last question?. Everyone KNOWS (don't they?,(But haven't mentioned it)) That, If the truck was moved backwards and forwards in the wrong gear I.E. 2nd forward and reverse backward, The correct way is ALWAYS use first gear. AND it's the all time 6x6 with sprag clutches, Many times you WILL NOT (hardly) many times be able even to get it out of gear, let alone be able to change gear,
Is your truck air shift 6x6 engage? or is permanent 6x6 with sprag clutches. You could be doing a whole lot of work unnecessary if you do not check these points.
This condition can and is caused by 'wind up'. And easing the truck in opposite direction to where the 'bind up' took place will relieve the stresses, and the gear shift. Sometimes a few gentle back and forth shunts.

 

[gringeltaube]

............. This condition can and is caused by 'wind up'. And easing the truck in opposite direction to where the 'bind up' took place will relieve the stresses, and the gear shift. Sometimes a few gentle back and forth shunts.

Not so sure... The "wind-up" you describe only occurs between T-case front- and rear output shafts, and from there down to the axle shafts and wheels.
The OP said he had his truck pulled with a pickup, to get it to (slow) speed, to finally engage 5th. That means to me that at this point at least, there was no binding at all in the drivetrain.
If his clutch was working properly he should be able to shift the tranny from neutral into any gear, regardless if there was such "wind-up" condition or not.