Shifting question

[Zero Hero]

Hello I'm rather new to driving (17) and was wondering why my manual tranny in my 87 Chevy c20 is harder to shift into to gears compared to a 92 Ford F-250 with a 5 speed that I drove today, while I was attempting to drive it the owner said something about it being fully synchronized is that the reason?

 

[Georgeb]

The SM465 is a slower shifting transmission. About all you can donto improve it is make sure the clutch is bled properly and consider going to GL-4 rated gear lube if you can find it. Those a big heavy gears in that trans and it takes time to slow them down between gears. Upshifts will be much quicker than down any way you slice it.

 

[Zero Hero]

That's nice to know, but I have another question about my tranny. When I stop at a stop sign and try to pull my tranny into 2nd gear sometimes I have to yank it in is this normal?

 

[Georgeb]

That's nice to know, but I have another question about my tranny. When I stop at a stop sign and try to pull my tranny into 2nd gear sometimes I have to yank it in is this normal?

It can be. Try pulling it in while you are still rolling to the stop.

 

[glockholiday]

Sometimes getting mine into 1st or 2nd is stiff. If I go to 4th first then it'll slide right into 1st or 2nd.

 

[Oldrider]

If it is an sm465 then the L (low) is not synchronized. You normally just drive it with 1, 2, and 3.
I have been driving mine since 1987. There is no speed shifting with this baby.
3rd to 2nd is never easy with mine. It keeps me from down shifting to pass because it really does not like to go back to 2nd unless I am moving slowly.
This is the same for 2nd to 1st. I just wait and shift into 1st from 3rd as I slow to a stop. Again, it does not down shift until I am nearly stopped.
As for reverse, if I remember the factory manual instructions correctly, you press in the clutch and wait 9 seconds, then it easily goes into reverse. Most of the time it does not take that long but sometimes takes a few tries.
Enjoy. That is the best transmission ever.

 

[Zero Hero]

Oh, y'all are not referring low to 1st gear. I don't know why but I just find it weird calling it low instead of 1st.

 

[CSFJ]

Shift pattern on the knob should read, L, 1, 2, 3.

 

[Zero Hero]

Shift pattern on the knob should read, L, 1, 2, 3.

Oh it does but I never call it low I just say 1st

 

[GTME94]

Just to say it again, Low isn't normally used except when you need to go really slow or pull a heavy load.
Normal shifting is 1,2,3. That's why it is called Low and not 1st.

 

[smoothandlow84]

Or low is called "granny gear". Like posted before its primarily used for towing heavy loads or steep grades. 1, 2 and 3 is used for normal driving.