Last night, coming home from work, I left from a stop light and was shifting from 1st into 2nd gear. The heal shifter goes to the floorboard. The transmission shifts only as far as neutral and would not move to 2nd gear. I almost got run over as a result.

The clutch works fine. No problem moving back into first, but first and neutral are all I have. Limped home in first gear along the side of the road.

My suspicion is a broken gear shifter fork. Anyone have any idea what might be the cause and if it is a fork, how hard is it to replace? The manual shows how but, man, does it look complicated.

I have a great indie but would rather fix it myself, if at all possible.

 

Are you positive its not the shift linkage or the shift shaft arm?

 

I have no idea what the problem might be. This is beyond anything I've experienced. Any idea on how to diagnose the problem?

 

I'm not a mechanic, but I think you need to take it apart to find out.

 

Second the shifting shaft linkage. Its far more likely that aluminum piece will strip at the splines before a shifter fork will fail.

 

Second the shifting shaft linkage. Its far more likely that aluminum piece will strip at the splines before a shifter fork will fail.

 

Check the shift levers to make sure they are tight at the splined shaft.Check to make the rear shift lever is not bottoming out on the floor board.
Look at the rear vertical shift arm that is attached to the shift shaft behind the primary.Many times the bolt can become loose and then the splines wear out.Grab it to see if it's loose.

 

I am guessing that your forward shift shaft is worn out...The splines in the heel and toe shifter and the shift arm behind them are probably worn to the point that they are slipping on the shaft...While watching the forward shift arm move your shifter as if you are shifting to second gear...Is the forward shift arm moving...If not that is most likely your problem...If all is OK there follow the linkage back and check the shift arm behind the primary that is attached to the shaft out of the transmission.

 

You can lift the chrome lid off the tranny and take a peek inside.

 

Geezer, you were dead on. The front shaft was fine and I knew it. I replaced the front shifters and shaft last year. It is the arm that attaches to the tranny shaft that is stripped. To replace that, I will have to take off the primary in order to get to it. I will take it to my mech and have him do it. It's bigger than I want to handle.

Thanks to all for the suggestions.