Transmission (gearbox) related - failure of gear engagement

Tiny
MAHODANI
  • MEMBER
  • 1975 JEEP CJ7
  • 2.5L
  • 6 CYL
  • 4WD
  • MANUAL
  • 802,756 MILES
Dear Sir/s,
Was absolutely thrilled to read that one of you there is a Jeep CJ guy - hope you can help me out. Firstly, the year and model of my jeep as stated may not be correct. But it's definitely either CJ5, 6 or 7. The jeep was running fine when all of a sudden with no prior warning of any kind, it would not shift or engage into any gear and remains in Free. Even with the engine OFF I still couldn't engage any gear. For ex. With engine off, I push lever into 1st gear. It does feel like its engaged. Then I start the jeep (without clutching) and it should jerk forward right? In my case - no, it just remain in Free gear. So what's up doc?
Thank you in advance for time n trouble. - Michael
Tuesday, December 17th, 2013 AT 9:45 PM

10 Replies

Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
If you can put in gear with engine off then it's probably the clutch is shot.
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Wednesday, December 18th, 2013 AT 7:50 AM
Tiny
CJ MEDEVAC
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. SOMETIMES IT'S A CARELESS THING

. SOMETIMES IT'S A MECHANICAL GLITCH WHEREAS IT AIN'T ALL THE WAY IN AND YOU BUCK IT A TIME OR TWO

. SOMETIMES IT'S A YOUNGIN' THING

. SOMETIMES IT'S YOUR EVIL BUDDIES

THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED TO ME WAS ANOTHER FELLER MESSED WITH IT UPON EXITING MY JEEP (NOT KNOWING)

THE REST OF THE TIME, IT'S BEEN MY EVIL BUDDIES DOING IT TO ME.I RECKON THEY THINK I AIN'T GOT IT FIGGERED OUT. BUT ONLY OWNING CJs SINCE I WAS ALLOWED ON THE ASPHALT IN 1981.I KNOW THE DEAL WELL. IT ONLY TAKES SHIFTING THRU THE GEARS AND NOT MOVING. ONE TIME. AND I GOT IT!
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SEE IF YOUR TRANSFER CASE HAS BEEN BUMPED INTO NEUTRAL!

OTHER THAN THAT, MORE SEVERE

. HAS SOMEONE STOLEN YOUR DRIVESHAFT. BEEN THERE TOO!

. THEN I'D INVESTIGATE THE CLUTCH POSSIBILITY

YOUR TURN. ANY PROGRESS?

RETURN WITH A BIG OLE GRIN!

THE MEDIC
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Wednesday, December 18th, 2013 AT 9:09 AM
Tiny
CJ MEDEVAC
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OK BOSS

WHAT'S GOING ON, ON YOUR END?

I JUST NOTICED YOU POSTED YOU HAD A '75 CJ7. CHECK YOUR NOMENCLATURE. IS IT A CJ 5 ('55-'83) OR A CJ 7 ('76-'86)?

ARE YOU GOING NOW :-)?

I'M REALLY CONCERNED THAT A JEEP MAY NOT BE ON THE MOVE, AS IT SHOULD BE

THE MEDIC
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Thursday, December 19th, 2013 AT 9:08 PM
Tiny
MAHODANI
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Dear All,
Thank you very much. And I truly meant it for your quick response. This Jeep was willed to me by my late father hence the seemingly lack of knowledge of model & year. I actually do have a 'Jeep repair & maintenance manual' where there is a section on identifying the vehicle via the VIN plate located on the top (left or right) wall of engine area under the hood. Even so my VIN plate looked nothing like what was shown in the manual.
Back to the issue on hand. Dear Sir (Hmac300), negative. What I meant was that even with the engine off I could not get it to engage in any gear (1-4), Some time back, I lost all clutching while driving due to the top (clutch) pump busted. So what I did then, I shut the engine and shifted into 2nd gear. Started the jeep (in 2nd gear) straightaway and slowly drove home. I'm aware that at very specific rpm you can actually shift gear both ways up & down without clutching but I'm no expert so 2nd gear slow and steady all the way home. But my current problem is that I couldn't even get it to engage any gears (1-4) with or without engine running nor the clutching.
And on to you dear Sir (of CJ Medevac), I do not quite understand what you meant by 'the transfer case bumped into neutral' because its a manual transmission (with 4 gears & Rev of coz). Kindly elaborate.
Once again, thank you all for your time and trouble.
- Michael (username Mahodani)
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Saturday, December 21st, 2013 AT 5:47 AM
Tiny
HMAC300
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  • 48,601 POSTS
There should be a shifter for the tcase for low and high and in the middle it's neutral. As far as what you are tal;king about in the trans check fulid first then check the shifter for adjustment or wear. If this is one tha tgoes inside the trans get a pair of channel locks push down and turn the collar an dthe whole shifter will come out. Then make sure it looks like a square or rectangle wher ethe shifter goes if not it is hung up between gears then take a large screwdriver and make everything line up then put shifter back in and see if it will shift if it does you are ok in not the trans has a problem inside.
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Saturday, December 21st, 2013 AT 5:51 AM
Tiny
CJ MEDEVAC
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YOU MAY HAVE TO YANK HARD TO MOVE THE TRANSFER CASE LEVER

GIMME THE 1ST 8 DIGITS OF YOUR VIN.I MAY BE ABLE TO TELL YOU YOUR NOMENCLATURE

HECK. SEND US A PIC!

KEEP IN MIND THIS IS "MY" '77 CJ5 LEVERS IN THE PIC

DEPENDING ON WHAT YOU HAVE---I HAVE PICS ON THE TRANNY'S INNARDS, FROM WHEN I REBUILT MINE

THE MEDIC
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Saturday, December 21st, 2013 AT 3:52 PM
Tiny
CJ MEDEVAC
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IS HE UP AND RUNNIN' YET?

THE MEDIC
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Monday, December 23rd, 2013 AT 7:57 PM
Tiny
MAHODANI
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Dear CJ Medevac,
Apologies for my delayed responses. Having read your replies there's like a bunch of light bulbs that goes blink. Blink. Blink & when I saw your photo particularly of the 'neutral gear'.I felt like a dumb bimbo (or himbo) & began to wonder if I ain't masculine enough for a Jeep.(Of what I see as a real man's auto). I'm definitely gonna follow your advice (to the letter) & will get back to ya on any progress. Hopefully I could address you as St. CJ Medevac in my next reply (your sainthood for being my savior).
Okee dokee. About my VIN no. I have to admit I'm kinda 'embarrassed' on this little issue. I'm actually located in Malaysia (42yr-old male) but I spent about 4 years in the States (Missouri) getting my degree. Back then, I was a biker.I rode a Honda Silverwing 500cc but my Harley buddies were always giving me a tough time (good-naturedly of coz) on me and my Jap bike! A chink on a jap bike! (Well it's not racism if one's refering to oneself rite?) Now you see my Jeep has a Jap engine! A Nissan 6-cyclinder 2.5L engine. I guess that's probably why my VIN info doesn't look like what I see in the manual. Oh boy, now I feel like half the man I used to be, having to reveal this little secret. Hahaha! All the 'machoness' on the outside hiding a teeny-weeny 2.5L Nissan engine. My late dad had it replaced due to the large difference in road tax payment between a 4.0L and a 2.5L engine.
Have to say looking at your photo, my Jeep's dashboard design especially with the large speedometer in the centre & 4 smaller gauges by the side + lighter/ashtray below looks identical to yours. Even the gear shift stick too.
I'm actually working on it - some bodywork, wiring, etc. And will definitely post a picture for ya. Meanwhile, I'm gonna follow your advice and hope for the best!
Truly, truly, truly. Couldn't thank you enough irregardless of the outcome.
- Michael (Mahodani)
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Friday, December 27th, 2013 AT 7:40 AM
Tiny
MAHODANI
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CORRECTION!
PLEASE NOTE THAT IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED AS:
Dear Hmac300 & CJ Medevac;

My apologies to Hmac300. Got too excited reading your reply and incidentally left you out in my opening.
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Friday, December 27th, 2013 AT 7:52 AM
Tiny
CJ MEDEVAC
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  • 11,004 POSTS
KEEP US POSTED AS YOU GO

WE GET NOTIFIED NO MATTER HOW LONG YOU WAIT TO RESPOND TO THIS THREAD

THE MEDIC
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Tuesday, December 31st, 2013 AT 6:33 PM

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