Shift linkage question

[YBLEGAL]

I swapped a '95 JDM B16 (Y21 trans) into my '00 EJ8. Ever since it's been done, which has been almost a year now, I've had unusual shift lever behavior. When I'm in gear, the lever moves side to side as if it were in neutral. Is this normal?

I've never felt like finding out till now. It's kinda cool, cuz when I'm in 2nd gear, I can set up 3rd for a straight shot instead of up and over and up.

Insight appriciated!

 

[Importfan]

By any chance when you hooked up the linkage to the tranny did you forget to put the pin back in the hole. I forgot to do that when i changed the clutch in my 92 integra and it did the same thing to me.

 

[ek_b16]

There could be many reasons. first try to tighten up the two bolts that hold the shifter from under the car. Maybe that might help out

 

[YBLEGAL]

no if those bolts under the shifter are loose, you wouldnt be able to hit 1st, 2nd, 5th, and reverse. i've experimented

what pin in what hole? could you be more specific?

if you mean the bolt that connects the rotating, moving arm to the transmission, rather than the static arm, that's deffinatly in and secure. other wise when you go after 1st, 3rd, or 5th the rod falls off...

no extra slop in the linkage, it just doesnt stay restricted to the H pattern. left right, and forward backward distances seem normal.

 

[UNDR8D]

Clearly this means that your car is going to explode...

 

[YBLEGAL]

lol not any more i just replaced the muffler bearings and re torqued the intake strap.

but seriously.....

??

 

[UNDR8D]

I've never felt like finding out till now. It's kinda cool, cuz when I'm in 2nd gear, I can set up 3rd for a straight shot instead of up and over and up.

Did you install a different shifter? What linkage did you use?

 

[K2e2vin]

Try replacing the shifter bushings. ES sells some for like $12 IIRC.

 

[YBLEGAL]

Did you install a different shifter? What linkage did you use?

It did this with the stock shifter, and my DC Sports one (crap) till i broke the DC, and now i have a B&M, which it still does it with. Bushings are fine, polyurathane, replaced with the DC once, and with the B&M again.

I used stock '95 del sol linkage. Again my car is a 2000 civic ex. I would expect the reason to come from the transmission side of the linkage, not the shifter.

It's not a problem. It's not an inconvience. I'm not dealing with anything to drive it correctly. Its an oddity I cannot explain. I only want to understand what is happening, I honestly don't want to 'fix' it.

Maybe it's inside the transmission? Internal? Shift forks not holding their position? I don't have a good knowledge of the inards of transmissions. I have a Y21 trans if anyone thinks they can take a stab.

 

[killektiv]

Have you checked that pin for the linkage yet? I dont know if that would really do it or not but its worth looking at.The pin is about 1/2 inch long (may be slightly smaller) and is shaped like a hollow cylnder. It has little teeth like grooves on the side. It goes into a small hole on an "arm" that goes directly into the transmission.And look at the pin in this guys hand. Thats what it looks like (sorry for the big pic but it was the only one I could find)But to be honest I dont see the linkage working with out that pin.

 

[YBLEGAL]

Sweet I like that you got into detail. But yeah, that's what I thought u were talking about. When I bought my swap, it didn't come in the crate. So I improvised with a nut and bolt. Works just the same. And yes your right, it would not work without that pin.

Anybody got input on it maybe being inside the transmission?

 

[killercannible]

Well most likely the problem comes from the fact that del sol shift linkage is shorter than civic and integra linkage. It is similar to crx linkage and is not supposed to work with your setup at all. From what i have learned from day one it is too short to even bolt up. Im suprised to hear you could but i can bet if you swapped the linkage for any integra linkage you will find the solution to your problem. I have a 97 ex coupe with gsr linkage on my b16 swap and it works fine. You can use any integra linkage from 90-01 but i suggest 94 and up because they are made of thicker steel tubing and give a more positive shift feel.

 

[YBLEGAL]

hmm. possible then i dont have del sol linkage. it came with the swap, and my mechanic that did the job didnt list or tell me he had to get different linkage. orrr when I ordered it, from i think it was jrmotors or something like that, i was going to get a front clip, but instead they talked me into getting just a swap set. they did ask what car it was going in. maybe they gave me linkage from a different vehicle. i'll research lengths and bends and try and place mine. thanks for the tip. its a perfect fit though.

but i still dont think its in the linkage for some reason. s'got to be internal, but the tranny feels great. if someone who has rebuilt a b series transmission, or a honda trans at the least read this, i'm sure they could give some feedback.

 

[killercannible]

It is the shift linkage for sure. If the tranny was messed up you would be missing gears or grinding, poping out. The gears wouldn't be in the wrong position, integra linkage is at most 40$ so i suggest you just try it and see if thats the issue.

 

[YBLEGAL]

I'm not looking to 'fix' it, just an understand what is happening. I like being able to move it left and right in gear to set up for the next gear...

I can disconnect the linkage and move the shift rod by hand (directly on the transmission), and when i rotate it left and push it in (simulating a 2nd gear change), i can still rotate it left and right like I can with the linkage attached. I still don't belive it's a linkage related issue.

I tried looking at my service manual, but I dont understand much of what part performs what function or how it is able to perform that function.

 

[killektiv]

You got me bro! I have no idea.

 

[YBLEGAL]

yeahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

i should go ask a honda tech

 

[killercannible]

I have taken a tranny apart myself, it is not your tranny, i can promise that. All linkages have a little play in the gear left and right. If you can get all gears regularly then the linkage is fine.