Car Hard to Get in Gear

[Laffs]

Lately the car has been getting harder and harder to get in to gear. Problem is mostly when stationary, I have to go 3 -2 -1 to get it in first gear with the car running. Sometimes the 1-2 is really notchy, 2/3 less so but still doesn't feel "right"

Any thing I can check? I adjusted the stops on the Pro 5.0 at beginning of season but didn't seem to make much difference. T56 trans, Centreforce Dual Friction clutch.

[Rich-C]

Gyms have reopened. Consider upper-body workouts :stickpoke:

[Laffs]

No amount of arm day has shown improvement in this matter. If anything it's made it more frustrating.

[ZR]

-cable too loose?
-we are seeing a number of CF DF clutches as they age produce that and or pedal gets very stiff.

[Laffs]

Clutch Cable? Will check. Hope the clutch isn't fried, only has maybe 8-10k kms on it.

[ZR]

Firewall adjuster or auto adjuster?

[Laffs]

Adjustable at clutch fork.

[ZR]

So Ford Racing / Chinese cable?

[ZR]

Impossible to beat the combo of MM firewall adjuster + MM quadrant combined with MM's own cable.

[Laffs]

So Ford Racing / Chinese cable?

Unknown, was added by a previous shop in 2010 when I still had the t45/ford racing clutch kit installed so assuming either UPR/BBK or Ford. I know its got an alum quadrant as well of unknown origin. Recommend replacement?

[ZR]

The one from MM has a unique shape to it where the cable rides, feels a good bit better than any others we've used in the past. Firewall adjuster ensures you get things dead nutz on (plus don't need to get up n under the car). Cable is said to be made by the OEM supplier to Ford. Can't say for sure but do know the kit works exactly as advertised.

[Laffs]

My luck is wonderful. Willing to roll the $150 dice on this if nothing more than to not have to crawl under car to adjust repeatedly, all the usual suspects out of stock on the kit.

[ZR]

They've been hard to get since the spring.

[bbriann]

New Carbon Fiber Synchros for 2nd 3rd 4th gears is like getting a new transmission.
They last me 3 years...shifting at 7000rpms....I changed them out last year
and in 2 years I will change them out again, next new set already sitting in my garage....
I don't change out 1st , 5th or reverse to avoid accidental shifting into those gears
at speed....

[Laffs]

I'd love to have the T56 built to Viper spec, but unaware of anyone in my area I'd trust to do that.

[Laffs]

Well, full MM clutch cable/quadrant/adjuster is in the Vert. Can't say if it fixed the issue because there is no way on gods green and blue earth im driving it right now, but it definitely made the clutch pedal feel lighter/more sprung. So did something I guess? It spring yet....

[ZR]

^ MM kit FTW!!!

[Laffs]

^ MM kit FTW!!!

This purchase was entirely based on your recommendation lol. Gonna take some getting used to this clutch feel.

Also per our convo about paying the wrong people to do work, the Ford Racing adjustable cable kit that was in the car, only one bolt in the firewall, adjustment nut was chewed to shit, no c clip in the bell housing, Only thing that sucks was the billet quadrant appeared to be a nice piece but wasn’t about to mix n match.

[ZR]

I typically set clearance on firewall adjuster to about thickness of a Toonie, never tighter but can be looser to lower pedal.
Hope you like it, Ross just ordered one for his car, have same in my own.

[Laffs]

Hmmm. Assuming you mean only enough threaded out to allow for the edge of a toonie? Looks like I'll have to double check my routing I guess. It had to come out much more than that to even pick up the slack on the cable, and that's with the spacer on the cable at the quadrant.

[ZR]

Small tug on the cable at the adjuster itself to check clearance.


https://lib.americanmuscle.com/files/contentgenerator/maximum-motorsports-clutch-cable-install.html/maximum-motorsports-high-performance-clutch-cable-on-your-mustang-12.png

[Laffs]

Oh. Gotcha, not knurled adjustment head to firewall clearance, but adjustment head to plastic cable head clearance. Thanks sir.

[ZR]

Exactly that.
Hope it works out to be what you were looking for. MM quadrant has a somewhat unique slope to it, like how it feels in my own and others we've installed.

[Laffs]

I noticed that when I held it up next to the FRPP piece (should taken a pic, I never think to when I'm working on the car). Much stubbier with a more circular slope vs the FRPP is long with a more gradual slope.

[ZR]

Shape is what gives it a more traditional over center feel.
Interested to hear how you like it out on the road.

[Laffs]

Shape is what gives it a more traditional over center feel.
Interested to hear how you like it out on the road.

Will do, can't wait to try it out. Oh BTW

[ZR]

Like your style.

[RedSN]

With slack in the cable, do you have a return spring?

[Laffs]

Negative. No return spring. Also at the adjustment shown above there isn't really any slack in the cable. I'd classify it a taut but not really under tension.

[Laffs]

All other cables, quandrants and adjusters are inadequate. This is the one true god of clutch cable setups

[ZR]

Felt confident you'd like it, good to hear it's worked out.

[Laffs]

First gear still can be a little finicky when stopped but in motion every gear is just bolt action rifle smooth now. Huge difference in the way the car feels and drives. Thank you for the reco.

[ZR]

Happy to help.

[Laffs]

Few hundred on the car now with new setup. Exceptional feel still present when car first started and driven but once everything gets hot (say 30 minutes of driving) the first gear issue persists. Some times even stopped fully with clutch to floor it actually grinds going in to first like clutch isn't fully disengaged. Should I be putting a little more tension on the cable to address this? Noticed as well if I pump the clutch a few times the issue isn't present.

[ZR]

Is it better if you flip to 2nd then into 1st?
OEM clutch in my Cobra, stopped at a light in neutral, odd time it would refuse to go into first, have to pull away in second, hotter the clutch worse it was. Twin disc has eliminated it.
Is gap the same as when set, not uncommon for cable to stretch just a hair when new.

[Laffs]

Is it better if you flip to 2nd then into 1st?
OEM clutch in my Cobra, stopped at a light in neutral, odd time it would refuse to go into first, have to pull away in second, hotter the clutch worse it was. Twin disc has eliminated it.
Is gap the same as when set, not uncommon for cable to stretch just a hair when new.

I believe gap is still at a Toonie, can confirm. Yes, normally better if I go 2nd to 1st vs trying to go right to first but even 2nd notchy on occasion.

[ZR]

You could snug up a hair or three but still has to have some clearance at that spot when you tug the cable to separate.