m-38 shift out of first gear

[M-38CDN]

I ride mostly on first gear and the transmission will shift out of gear. The ball spring detent seems very weak between first and reverse; I don't feel anything while it's a strong click between second and third.
What are the ball and spring sizes? Is it easy to replace?
Gaétan

[wesk]

The spring & ball were meant to keep the shift lever in position. When these trannies slip out of gear under load then it is normally a wear issue on the gear sets and in particular the sliding gears and their collars and for the 2 & 3 gears include the synchronizer.

[M-38CDN]

Thank you for your answer; anyway I will need to replace the ball & spring, do you have information on this?
Gaétan

[Bretto]

It's pretty straight forward. Just pull the floor panel over the tranny and unbolt the tranny shift tower assembly. Just be mindful of where the shift forks need to go back. Not a big deal to figure out. Then you can take this and work on it at the bench.
I don't know if you will have any luck finding just the springs thru respectable vendors without buying a rebuild kit but you might find at a possible replacement at a good hardware shop. Same goes for the poppet balls. They are just ball bearings.
There is a rebuild guide of the shift tower at the tail end of Rick Stiver's tranny rebuild guide.
http://www.willystech.com/wt/T90Rebuild ... ebuild.htm

[M-38CDN]

Thank you Bretto for the info
Gaétan[/quote]