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Mon Jul 23, 2012 10:32 am

Is it normal for a bug transmission to rumble a little in first gear when turned over by hand?

As I shift up through the gears it gets smoother. 1st is rumbly, 2nd is smoother but still kinda noisy, 3rd is pretty smooth, and 4th is nice and silky.

On the bright side, despite the rumble, it's not like it is catching or hanging up on anything when turned over. It's just noisier in the lower gears.

What do you guys think? Should I be concerned?

Mon Jul 23, 2012 10:45 am

How long has it been since you changed the gear oil? It needs to be changed every 30,000 miles.

Mon Jul 23, 2012 10:51 am

It isn't in a car. I changed it about 2 weeks ago.

I could take a short video of it so you can hear it would help. It's hard to describe.

Mon Jul 23, 2012 11:42 am

first is obviously the most used gear, along with 2nd, being the 2nd most used gear.......you see where I'm going.

If it downshifts from 4-3 and 3-2 without drama i'd say you have a decent transmission :D

Mon Jul 23, 2012 1:47 pm

She down shifts without to much fuss.

Um, does this look bad to anybody?

Mon Jul 23, 2012 11:43 pm

baked beetle wrote: first is obviously the most used gear, along with 2nd, being the 2nd most used gear.......you see where I'm going.
Not true. Besides reverse, 1st is the least used gear. I use 4th more than any other gear. Then 3rd. 1st and 2nd are pass through gears, I rarely cruise in them.

Mon Jul 23, 2012 11:46 pm

Vanapplebomb wrote: Um, does this look bad to anybody?

That damage only affects reverse. Does it stay in reverse when you're backing up? If so, you're ok. Change the oil to get all that missing metal out. And stop hammering it into reverse while you're moving! You MUST be at a dead stop.
Post your video.

Tue Jul 24, 2012 1:22 am

Bruce wrote: baked beetle wrote: first is obviously the most used gear, along with 2nd, being the 2nd most used gear.......you see where I'm going.
Not true. Besides reverse, 1st is the least used gear. I use 4th more than any other gear. Then 3rd. 1st and 2nd are pass through gears, I rarely cruise in them.

I think what he may have been trying to say is that 1st gets shifted into more than any other gear, which is probably true.

Tue Jul 24, 2012 6:22 am

Bruce wrote: baked beetle wrote: first is obviously the most used gear, along with 2nd, being the 2nd most used gear.......you see where I'm going.
Not true. Besides reverse, 1st is the least used gear. I use 4th more than any other gear. Then 3rd. 1st and 2nd are pass through gears, I rarely cruise in them.

I totally agree with you Bruce, but I guess I think I was just speaking of syncro wear more than anything.

Tue Jul 24, 2012 6:25 am

I have never driven this transmission. I bought it about a little over a year ago, so i couldn't tell you how it drivers in revers. It shifts into reverse, but thats all I can tell you about that.

Tue Jul 24, 2012 3:09 pm

Alright, I will take a quick video shoot tonight and upload it.

Thanks guys.

Tue Jul 24, 2012 7:13 pm

Alright, here is the video. As you can see it shifts just fine, but what about the sound it makes in the lower gears. Obviously there will be some noise but it just sounds rough in 1st and 2nd to me, so I thought I would run it by you guys that know a lot more about this stuff than me.

Wed Jul 25, 2012 12:21 am

That's not a good way to test it. Best is to make yourself a crank to go on the input shaft, then crank it clockwise (the way the engine turns) to mimic the engine.
By turning the output flanges, you are duplicating coasting down a hill. Gear noise while coasting is not that important.

Wed Jul 25, 2012 1:58 am

What that sound means to me is either the trans is freshly built or there's something wrong with it.

Put three thousand miles on it and then try it again

Thu Jul 26, 2012 7:11 am

Out of curiosity, what could your Quote: or there's something wrong with it be?

I guess I will go ahead and try this transmission out. If it works great, fine. If not, then I guess I will have to find a new one.

Today 7:51 am

Vanapplebomb wrote: Out of curiosity, what could your Quote: or there's something wrong with it be?

I guess I will go ahead and try this transmission out. If it works great, fine. If not, then I guess I will have to find a new one.

oK, WAY OLD thread, but I'm wondering if Vanapplebomb ever figured out the grinding noise?