98' Mazda B4000 RWD 5spd HARD to shift into 1st from stop

No grinding just hard to get into gear with clutch all the way down.
While at a stop, effort is less if you go from 2nd to 1st gear then let
out the clutch. My syncros ? Trans oil and rear diff oil have recently
been changed and there is no difference.

wrote:
> No grinding just hard to get into gear with clutch all the way down.
> While at a stop, effort is less if you go from 2nd to 1st gear then let
> out the clutch. My syncros ? Trans oil and rear diff oil have recently
> been changed and there is no difference.

Has it always been difficult, or is this a recent change.

wrote:
> No grinding just hard to get into gear with clutch all the way down.
> While at a stop, effort is less if you go from 2nd to 1st gear then let
> out the clutch. My syncros ? Trans oil and rear diff oil have recently
> been changed and there is no difference.

Yes, it sounds just like a worn 1rst gear blocking ring (a part of the
1-2 synchronizer assembly) Block rings can wear in two common ways to
cause this. The external teeth can wear down (makes synchro sleeve
engagement difficult) or the internal grooves that ride on the 1rst
driven gear can wear smooth (makes it harder for the block ring to slow
down or speed up the driven gear to match cluster gear shaft speed to
main shaft speed).

I don't know of any pattern failures for this trans, but it is an
outside possibility that the shifter mechanism bushings or seats in the
top shift portion of the case are worn in such a way as to make 1rst
gear selection difficult. I would bank on the synchro assly though.

Toyota MDT in MO

It was not liek this when new. It has become like this the last two
years or so

John S. wrote:
> wrote:
> > No grinding just hard to get into gear with clutch all the way down.
> > While at a stop, effort is less if you go from 2nd to 1st gear then let
> > out the clutch. My syncros ? Trans oil and rear diff oil have recently
> > been changed and there is no difference.
>
> Has it always been difficult, or is this a recent change.