6sp MT - difficult shifting after clutch install

[jollycj]

Going in for my last free oil change on my 2021 Sport. I know I’m on the recall list but I’ll be damned if I’m going to let them change out my clutch. Took me 3 months to figure out the friction zone on this thing. Not interested in fixing something that’s not broke. Love my Sting Gray.

Just had the clutch recall done and picked up my 21 Willys today. Very difficult to shift into 1st and 2nd, going to have to bring it back. Takes some finesse and patience to get into 1st, it was very smooth prior to the recall.

Understand why you're not doing it. Hoping dealer can resolve quickly and its not an on-going issue.

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[jeep1]

Just had the clutch recall done and picked up my 21 Willys today. Very difficult to shift into 1st and 2nd, going to have to bring it back. Takes some finesse and patience to get into 1st, it was very smooth prior to the recall.

Understand why you're not doing it. Hoping dealer can resolve quickly and its not an on-going issue.

Definitely take it back and have it adjusted. My wife had the same issue on her 2020 after the recall and the dealership quickly resolved it.

 

[notthenewguy]

You put it into 3rd, wiggle the shifter and let it self-center. Then without touching the shifter, unlock, and then lock the adjuster. Don't touch the shifter with it unlocked, and don't try to adjust.

So I spent this past weekend adjusting and driving my jeep around to figure out what’s going on with it. If I follow either procedure posted in this thread, the jeep shifts fine in every gear except 4th. 4th grinds consistently if I follow the adjustment procedure as illustrated and described in this thread. Another thing I notice is that there is very little free play in 1st and 2nd with that adjustment. What I mean is, after the push the shifter over to the left to engage 1st or 2nd, there is almost no room to the right of either gear gate, whereas prior to the clutch install, there seemed to be a little wiggle room to free play in that gate. Now, I adjusted the shutter a different way. I put it into 3rd, unlocked the neutral gate cable lock, moved the shifter slightly to the right and pushed it up against a little notch in the shifter, then locked it. Now, I know this isn’t the recommended adjustment, but now my jeep shifts much better in every gear. Still not by, but it doesn’t grind. Every gear has the normal amount of free play that was present prior to the clutch, too. However, I just noticed this morning, when in first or second, if push down/up the shifter to slide the car out of either first or second, the shifter doesn’t move to the right to recenter, it’s basically already centered. To get into first and second I have a normal amount of travel time gen I push left and the tread engage fine. But, when coming out of that gear, the shifter doesn’t recenter because it is basically already centered.
This makes me think that the cable bracket at the transmission was messed with during install. Will have to take it to the dealer and pay for the cables to be adjusted at the transmission and at the shifter. The jeep drives fine as is but the shifter is definitely not adjusted to where it is supposed to and I just don’t want to pay a lot more down the road for new cables or a new transmission due to this modified adjustment. As I mentioned above, if I adjust the shifter the way it is described in this thread, 4th gear is impossible to shift smoothly no matter how I shift. It was maddening how tricky shifting into 4th was. It doesn’t seem to be a clutch or hydraulic issue as every other gear shifts completely fine, if not better than stock. Hate that I’ll have to pay for this to be done by the dealer but oh well.

 

[azjl#3]

The dealership, if they have a competent tech, should be able to correct it, but don't expect them to pay for it or cover it under warranty. That went out the door when an independent shop put the wrenches to it. Clearly they didn't put it back together correctly. It worked as intended before they touched it, now it doesn't. I'd make that shop get it right. It is not rocket science. Cable linked shifters have been around for a LOOONNNNGGGG time. There's nothing high tech about it. They need to do their homework and figure it out. I'm pretty sure FCA has tech support that independent shops can call in a jam. They probably charge the shop a fee, but that's the price of being an independent shop.

If their good rep is real, they'll make it right. If they throw their hands up, then they got in over their heads and won't admit it.

This^^^ if they are reputable, why are you asking here, make them fix it.

 

[AlgUSF]

So, my Jeep is having issues going into first after the clutch install. I took it back and said that I believe it is an issue with the shifting linkage, they had it for a half day and said that the issue was internal to the transmission. Does someone have a picture of where the adjustments are made?

https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/fo...or-19a-recall-need-a-transmission-now.137221/

 

[Toycrusher]

So, my Jeep is having issues going into first after the clutch install. I took it back and said that I believe it is an issue with the shifting linkage, they had it for a half day and said that the issue was internal to the transmission. Does someone have a picture of where the adjustments are made?

https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/fo...or-19a-recall-need-a-transmission-now.137221/

Row your shifter into 2nd before shooting for first, or blip your revs high while putting pressure on the 1st gate and see if it doesn't let you in

 

[AlgUSF]

Row your shifter into 2nd before shooting for first, or blip your revs high while putting pressure on the 1st gate and see if it doesn't let you in

Is it your thought that the first gear synchro may have went out?

 

[Toycrusher]

Is it your thought that the first gear synchro may have went out?

Clutches have had issues not releasing from the flywheel (or pressure plate) meaning the input shaft keeps spinning even when you are pressing the clutch in. It's noticeable in aftermarket clutches with exactly what you describe, the inability to get into a low gear (1st or 2nd sometimes).

I personally feel that the same issue may be a contributing factor to the stock clutches failing.

If the clutch hydraulics are not fully bled, you will notice this. But even fully bled, the issue can still remain.

 

[AlgUSF]

The dealer shifted it in front of me with the engine off and it was having problems getting into first gear with the engine off. What was interesting is before the clutch I was getting some grinding going from 2nd into 1st when coasting to a stop sign at around 1-5mph.

 

[Toycrusher]

The dealer shifted it in front of me with the engine off and it was having problems getting into first gear with the engine off. What was interesting is before the clutch I was getting some grinding going from 2nd into 1st when coasting to a stop sign at around 1-5mph.

With the engine off, it's not uncommon to have resistance if the clutch dog teeth happen to be contacting. If your wheels are turning slightly, it should slide right into any gear

 

[notthenewguy]

So I never quite got the shifter adjustment right. If I adjust the shifter the way it says in the MOPAR links posted in this thread, the reverse gate lockout hits the left side of the shifter and makes it REALLY hard to get into first and second gear. I’m thinking something with the cables underneath the jeep or possibly at the bracket is off. Really hoping it isn’t anything internal. What I have to do to adjust it so that I can get into first and second is have the shifter in 3rd, unlock the neutral gate lock, very slowly move the shifter to the right of the 3rd gear gate and lock it. This allows me to get into gear but the jeep still does not shift all that well.
If I depress the clutch really fast it helps smoothen out the shift but it is still really inconsistent. Going to the dealer on Monday cause I just need this issue fixed.

 

[Toycrusher]

So I never quite got the shifter adjustment right. If I adjust the shifter the way it says in the MOPAR links posted in this thread, the reverse gate lockout hits the left side of the shifter and makes it REALLY hard to get into first and second gear. I’m thinking something with the cables underneath the jeep or possibly at the bracket is off. Really hoping it isn’t anything internal. What I have to do to adjust it so that I can get into first and second is have the shifter in 3rd, unlock the neutral gate lock, very slowly move the shifter to the right of the 3rd gear gate and lock it. This allows me to get into gear but the jeep still does not shift all that well.
If I depress the clutch really fast it helps smoothen out the shift but it is still really inconsistent. Going to the dealer on Monday cause I just need this issue fixed.

Any update?

 

[notthenewguy]

Any update?

No major update
Readjusted the shifter again last night. This time, slightly more to the right. Now, 1-2 is butter and feels like I have a “normal” amount of space/free play to get into 1st or 2nd. Whereas, the prior adjustment felt like a really tight squeeze to get into those gears due to the reverse lockout on the shifter stick hitting the lockout wall on the shifter base. Now it feels much easier. 2-3 is smooth, 3-4 is rough if I shift at a normal pace. What I have to do is put a small amount of pressure on the stick towards 4th, clutch fast, wait until the stick slides out in its own and the 4th is smoother. 4-5 is smooth but 5th feels like it’s way far R, 5-6 is smooth with a little bit of notchiness going into 6. I guess the biggest update is that the clutch/slave squeaks when engaging/disengaging the clutch and today I got a new sound which is basically a really loud metallic groan when letting the clutch out slowly in 1st to get the car moving. Idk what it is to be honest. I doubt it’s the clutch because all other gears are fine. Could be internal or something in the linkage. Will say that after the clutch job the shifter feels like it has much more play in it in all directions.

Another odd thing that confuses the heck outta me is that if I shift really “spirited” it shifts completely fine. Don’t know what to make of that or any of this, truth be told. So I guess that is actually a bit of an update lol

I’m basically at the point where I just want to pay a reputable shop, that is unfortunately 2 hours away, to just swap in a new linkage/assess my current linkage and see if that fixes anything. If it stays the same but fixes the slop/free play that’s a win I guess

Really wish jeep didn’t go to a linkage style shift mechanism with the JL. The old stick in my JK was much better. Yeah, it had a lot of play in it and would vibrate as the car accelerated or went over jumps, and felt like an old truck but it was. also more direct feeling than these cable linkages and simpler in terms of clutch jobs. You don’t need to worry about a bracket being out of alignment or cables getting linked/bent/broken. Oh well. That’s neither here nor there with my situation.

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