reluctant t-5

[turbofiend31]

Just wondering if I'm the only one with a tranny reluctant to go into reverse. I always have to align the synchros before putting it reverse and sometimes it even gives me trouble then. Never had any problem with the t-5 on my past V8 cars-it would slip in without a hitch. Never grinds or pops out, but getting it in sometimes is annoying.

Anyone else have this issue? Just curious.

[Keasbey]

On both of my cars

[bendutro]

It's very common on T5s to put it in 5th before going to reverse.

[THESVOTRUST]

No help-but the reverse prawl had design changes (at least a couple maybe a few) on the T5. I know one in the middle of the SVO run.

Can say if it had to do with ratio /cluster change-or if it was for improvemnt.
Anyone that has built boxes (read were often taking two to make one) in the old days ran into the incompatibility.

Mark
P.S. And anyone that took the hex bolt out of a 84/85 thinking it was a fill plug! (Ford changed to the torx dome for 85.5) Just one of the 173 improvements!

[Alex L]

Can say if it had to do with ratio /cluster change-or if it was for improvemnt.
Anyone that has built boxes (read were often taking two to make one) in the old days ran into the incompatibility.

84 was NWC, 85+ was WC. WC added carbon fiber syncros, changed some of the carrier bearings, and added a reverse idler gear brake.

[indiana dave]

There is not a syncro for reverse in any T5, correct? Every one I've ever driven, from an 85GT, to my SVO, to a 93 GT grinded into reverse.

[SVOeric]

yes, a synchro going into reverse would be a great idea, Until you accidentally hit reverse on a 5th - 4th shift.

[SVOinDC]

There is no synchronizer for reverse gear in the T5.

The reverse idler gear is the same part for all T5 WC boxes - that part does not change with all the assorted gear ratios available - it still uses the same idler gear (about $30/US for a new one).

Most likely the finely-tapered teeth on the engagement side of the idler gear are hammered and it needs to be replaced. This happens cause people don't stop the cluster from rotating before selecting reverse - thus the grinding referred to above is what causes the difficult engagement.

The *proper* method to select reverse [in any manual gearbox] is to bring the wheels to a complete stop then de-clutch and select any forward gear - using its synchro to stop the gears moving - then select reverse.

If it balks at going into reverse (probably cause the pointed cones on the idler gear are no longer pointed) then select neutral and release the clutch to spin the cluster. Then de-clutch, select a forward gear, then select reverse.

I have some good pics of a severely damaged idler gear vs. a new one that I will post later.

Truly informative. You need to write a book. Check that. You need to write a series of books....

[Henson]

Looks good to me. Happily broke in.

[turbofiend31]

There is no synchronizer for reverse gear in the T5.

The reverse idler gear is the same part for all T5 WC boxes - that part does not change with all the assorted gear ratios available - it still uses the same idler gear (about $30/US for a new one).

Most likely the finely-tapered teeth on the engagement side of the idler gear are hammered and it needs to be replaced. This happens cause people don't stop the cluster from rotating before selecting reverse - thus the grinding referred to above is what causes the difficult engagement.

The *proper* method to select reverse [in any manual gearbox] is to bring the wheels to a complete stop then de-clutch and select any forward gear - using its synchro to stop the gears moving - then select reverse.

If it balks at going into reverse (probably cause the pointed cones on the idler gear are no longer pointed) then select neutral and release the clutch to spin the cluster. Then de-clutch, select a forward gear, then select reverse.

I have some good pics of a severely damaged idler gear vs. a new one that I will post later.

I know the T-5 lacks a synchro for reverse. I've owned 3 fox 5.0s with manuals. I also always stop and select 5th before putting into reverse. For some reason, the SVO has been the toughest to engage--I have to finesse it every time. A nuisance more than a problem, as it always engages after a little haggling. Just need to get used to it.

Thanks for the technical answer regarding the idler gear, Mike. I can always count on getting a thorough, detailed answer on this forum--why this forum is such a valuable resource.

[gbeaird]

That's what I gotta do in our 92 B4C Canary. Sometimes, it goes right into reverse. Most of the time however, you gotta try reverse, back to neutral, let the clutch out to spin the tranny, hit the clutch again, go to 3rd or 5th, then try reverse. Wash, rinse, repeat, until you get to reverse.

Never seemed to have the trouble in the SVO. I am guessing the car actually only had 85K miles when we bought it instead of the guessed-at 185K.

Gene Beaird,
86 2R SVO, G Stock,
Pearland, Texas