Rebuilt transmission not shifting out of first gear

[Christian.mers]

Hey, I think I definitely just found the issue. I really wish I could post videos and show you a video because a picture won’t do it long story short I jacked up my rear axle and spun the tires clockwise and quickly before the rotation stops, I would rotate the tire counterclockwise, and I can literally hear click click click click click as if something in my transfer case or my transfer case to transmission is slipping

I’m glad you found it man.

If the shifter gives you a lot of issues just replace it with this

@macleanflood also just mentioned flushing your trans cooler. You can use compressed air (Very Carefully at like 5-10psi) or you can add fluid to the inlet and keep adding it till you see new fluid coming out of the outlet

 

[hear]

You’re correct, the front band is accessible from the exterior and it controls the Second gearshift lever position

The rear band needs to have the pan dropped to adjust it and it controls the Reverse and only the Manual D1 gearshift position

Don't mess with the low/reverse band (the one inside the pan) unless you don't have reverse and/or Manual 1 doesn't work right and/or you don't have engine braking in Manual 1.

Given that they didn't adjust the kickdown band properly lots of stuff is suspect. If you didn't opt for a pan with a drain plug, it's a big mess to get to that band adjuster. Make the shop do it if needed.

 

[Nicks1997TJ]

you can disconnect the t-case linkage from the bar at the t-case and shift by hand. If you happened to have the case apart, it's possible to put the bar on upside down and the the shifter detents end up backwards so you think you're in 4LO when you're in 2HI, and assorted other problems.

you can disconnect the t-case linkage from the bar at the t-case and shift by hand. If you happened to have the case apart, it's possible to put the bar on upside down and the the shifter detents end up backwards so you think you're in 4LO when you're in 2HI, and assorted other problems.

you can disconnect the t-case linkage from the bar at the t-case and shift by hand. If you happened to have the case apart, it's possible to put the bar on upside down and the the shifter detents end up backwards so you think you're in 4LO when you're in 2HI, and assorted other problems.

I believe I my have done that, I did have the t-case separate from transmission and when I’m removing the linkage, I remove the bar and bolt instead of popping off from that bushing

 

[Christian.mers]

Another thing to mention, were you spinning them in reverse

Don't mess with the low/reverse band (the one inside the pan) unless you don't have reverse and/or Manual 1 doesn't work right and/or you don't have engine braking in Manual 1.

Smart thinking for sure!

 

[hear]

Hey, I think I definitely just found the issue. I really wish I could post videos and show you a video because a picture won’t do it long story short I jacked up my rear axle and spun the tires clockwise and quickly before the rotation stops, I would rotate the tire counterclockwise, and I can literally hear click click click click click as if something in my transfer case or my transfer case to transmission is slipping

click click click sounds like a lunchbox locker, no?

 

[Christian.mers]

It absolutely sounds like a lunchbox locker if you had one. The vibrations would travel through your driveshaft and could give the appearance of a different problem area.

That would also explain the clicking or ratcheting when spinning the wheels in “reverse”

 

[Nicks1997TJ]

Couple of questions...did you install the transmission yourself?

If you did, did you flush the cooler in the radiator or replace the radiator and lines for the transmission cooler?

What's your tire size and gear ratio?

-Mac

Hey, I installed new radiator and spark plug wires, a new hose kit, I blew out both the sending receiving metal cooling lines with my compressor but I didint replace them, and yeah I removed it and installed it myself

 

[hear]

I believe I my have done that, I did have the t-case separate from transmission and when I’m removing the linkage, I remove the bar and bolt instead of popping off from that bushing

View attachment 638322

View attachment 638323

That looks right to me, I'm pretty sure. Also obligatory "get yourself a cable shifter for your transfer case."

 

[hear]

Hey, I installed new radiator and spark plug wires, a new hose kit, I blew out both the sending receiving metal cooling lines with my compressor but I didint replace them, and yeah I removed it and installed it myself

View attachment 638326

also obligatory "get yourself a fan shroud."

 

[Nicks1997TJ]

click click click sounds like a lunchbox locker, no?

also obligatory "get yourself a fan shroud."

Yeah the one I took out broke I’m ordering one soon, would this explain why it looks like the seal on rear axle has been re-done? I haven’t looked inside of it yet I’m not sure if there is a LBlocker

 

[Christian.mers]

Spin your rear wheel when it’s jacked up and if the other wheel spins the same direction you have a locker

 

[Nicks1997TJ]

Spin your rear wheel when it’s jacked up and if the other wheel spins the same direction you have a locker

Hmm okay that’s good too know about that clicking and lb locker, I was going to remove transfer case because of that clicking just gotta figure out why it’s having such a hard time accelerating and reversing only in 2 wheel unless my tcase shift linkage really is messed up

 

[Christian.mers]

Does it have a lb?

Reverse too? Try 4-lo In reverse and see if it gives you the same issues as 2WD reverse.

Still sounds to me like a shift linkage even though yours looks about right to me (it’s almost midnight here in WV and I’m crawling around under my jeep)

 

[Nicks1997TJ]

Does it have a lb?

Reverse too? Try 4-lo In reverse and see if it gives you the same issues as 2WD reverse.

Still sounds to me like a shift linkage even though yours looks about right to me (it’s almost midnight here in WV and I’m crawling around under my jeep)

Haha yeah sounds familiar, yeah it does have a locker, I’ve had it for a few years, it was a piece of junk so I never driven it. I’ve been building it for a few years and now I’m ready to daily it so no one ever mentioned that locker to me that’s cool to find out. I’m taking apart my t-case shifting linkage to see if there is something that’s not too visible that’s causing an issue

 

[Christian.mers]

Always nice to find out you have something nice that you didn’t know about!

Let us know how that goes

 

[macleanflood]

Granted this is a cable shifter...but this should give you an idea of how the lever shifts the transfer case...

-Mac

 

[hear]

Haha yeah sounds familiar, yeah it does have a locker, I’ve had it for a few years, it was a piece of junk so I never driven it. I’ve been building it for a few years and now I’m ready to daily it so no one ever mentioned that locker to me that’s cool to find out. I’m taking apart my t-case shifting linkage to see if there is something that’s not too visible that’s causing an issue

just pop the arm out of the bar and shift it all the way forward by hand....i'm pretty sure that's 2HI. Either way, 2HI, 4HI, 4LO, you should have zero problem climbing your inclined driveway. But if the problems are still there you may need to explain exactly what you get in better detail. Does it rev but not go anywhere? Or does it creep? Or does it only do something after a certain rpm level, that sort of thing.

And did you tell us why it was rebuilt in the first place? I may have missed that.

 

[Nicks1997TJ]

Always nice to find out you have something nice that you didn’t know about!

Let us know how that goes

just pop the arm out of the bar and shift it all the way forward by hand....i'm pretty sure that's 2HI. Either way, 2HI, 4HI, 4LO, you should have zero problem climbing your inclined driveway. But if the problems are still there you may need to explain exactly what you get in better detail. Does it rev but not go anywhere? Or does it creep? Or does it only do something after a certain rpm level, that sort of thing.

And did you tell us why it was rebuilt in the first place? I may have missed that.

Okay that will be my next test. I’ll leave the linkage removed and shift it by hand. And get more info on the rpm limit before it starts moving in both drive and reverse, The transmission was rebuilt because I found a very big amount of metal shavings in the pan and burnt smell of oil and and leaks from the bell housing, which may have just been a valve cover leak but either way I just know the jeeps old and I wanted it to have a fresh transmission so I can have a safe mind

 

[Nicks1997TJ]

Always nice to find out you have something nice that you didn’t know about!

Let us know how that goes

My secret weapon for removing the skid plate 20 times in 1 day btw

 

[Christian.mers]

Where the heck did you get that??? I need me one