I don't know why but sometimes it grinds and sometimes it doesn't. I vert gently go into reverse gear with clutch fully engaged. I don't wanna do more damage if there is any suffered already.

Mines does that too.
I put it in 5th and then pull it straight back to reverse. Try that.

------------------
1988 Fiero GT

Double clutch works for me. However since replacing the select cable, it doesn't seem to grind anymore.

Seems that going into 5th then reverse works. I will keep trying that for now on. Thanks.

It does that in my 4-speed sometimes. I don't worry about it much, I just think its because Reverse is not synchromesh. It barely does it but if you move the car a little or double clutch it won't.

------------------

http://members.cardomain.com/tinton

on 5 speeds i have always had the habbit of doing a 4th then reverse it is fast and effective.. on my 4 speed it seems to always go into 2nd easier than 1st so i go into 2nd then reverse... just some of my habbits i guess

quote Originally posted by Tinton: It does that in my 4-speed sometimes. I don't worry about it much, I just think its because Reverse is not synchromesh. It barely does it but if you move the car a little or double clutch it won't.

Hey Tinton, did you ever finish your clutch pedal and banjo rod replacement?

Boy my Isuzu 5 speed is starting to do this often now.

quote Originally posted by solotwo: Anyone else have this with their Isuzu 5 speed?

Sure... but it's no big deal. As others have said, just get in the habit of sliding in another gear before you go to reverse.

Tinton is exactly correct here. Generally (Fieros are not an exception), reverse does not have syncros. Syncros are like little clutches that help the transmission match speeds between the output shaft and the input shaft. Without syncros, the transmission will grind unless the two gears are already moving at the same speed (in sync). By putting the transmission in another sycronized gear first, the operator is syncing up the gears, then sliding it into reverse with the gears already matched from the "ghost" shift. On a 5 speed I personally find that 5th is easiest (for me) because its a direct straight shift from there into reverse.

------------------
1988 Fiero GT
Cleveland Fiero Club

quote Originally posted by TG oreiF 8891: Tinton is exactly correct here. Generally (Fieros are not an exception), reverse does not have syncros. Syncros are like little clutches that help the transmission match speeds between the output shaft and the input shaft. Without syncros, the transmission will grind unless the two gears are already moving at the same speed (in sync). By putting the transmission in another sycronized gear first, the operator is syncing up the gears, then sliding it into reverse with the gears already matched from the "ghost" shift. On a 5 speed I personally find that 5th is easiest (for me) because its a direct straight shift from there into reverse.

I find your explanation good and easy to understand, but I just can't figure out your screen name

quote Originally posted by Mister: I find your explanation good and easy to understand, but I just can't figure out your screen name

Look at it backwards !!!! You'll get it !!

I didn't know Oreif was already here and everything was taken, so I put 1988 Fiero GT backwards and got TG oreiF 8891; I even kept the capitalization where it should be when viewed forwards. I know, I know, I have no imagination.

Edit: I forgot to add that on most newer cars there is a gate to stop you from doing the 5th to reverse shift and you'd have to use 4th, or something else. The gate usually works like this: when the shifter moves to the right of the 3-4 slot it closes and only lets you choose either 5th or reverse. The gate is re-set if the shifter is moved to the left of the 5-R slot. So if its in 5th, it won't let allow a shift to reverse without moving the shifter sideways to the left to re-set the gate.

I don't think I explained that well, let me try again. Once the shifter goes to the right of the 3-4 slot, it only allows one shift. The shifter has to move back to the left and then back to the right to choose a the other gear.

It's really not that complicated, just don't expect to jump in a new car and do the 5th to reverse shift.

[This message has been edited by TG oreiF 8891 (edited 06-11-2006).]

IIRC, the Getrag has a synchronized reverse, but that aside, shifting into another gear does help. I typically use 3rd becasue it's a comfortable shift before going into Reverse. My Formula will grind a little bit if I forget and try to go straight into reverse.

When (if) I do an engine swap, I'll be replacing the shift and select cables as well, so I'll see if that helps then.

I seriously doubt it, given that the youngest ones in our cars are 18 years old. Most cars of that vintage didn't have syncros on reverse, and I think many didn't have syncros on 1st either. The reasoning being that, generally people are stopped when they shift into either one; thus, the syncro is "unnecessary." I tried to downshift into first in an older car once (at an appropriate speed like 5mph), and the gears didn't like it so much they yelled at me!