98 EV , gearbox issue

[arveno]

Hi everyone,
My 98 EV gearbox has always given me false neutral between 2nd and 3rd gear i just lived with it
Yesterday she decided NOT to go into 4th and 5 th gear..... go figure...
Sometime it gets into 4 th but no more 5th gear .
To get her into 4th gear i have to down shift from 3rd to second and then accelerate over 4 k rpm and quickly put into 3rd and then 4 th.
Clutch works good , i dont think is the clutch... anyway , how much would it cost to get the 5 trans gearbox overhauled ?
I rather fix my gearbox once for good rather that pick one used .

as always , any input/advice/suggestion highly appreciated.

thanks Marco

[twhitaker]

From what I've read here a lot of the transmission problems are traced to linkage problems.

Have you looked at the shifter pivot bushing? Lee Bruns on this forum is your man.  Tightening up the linkage pivots may help too.

The above is much easier than crabbing the frame.

[Wayne Orwig]

As mentioned, triple check the linkage. If there is too much slop, things bottom out before it can shift.
Also, on the linkage that goes vertical, just behind the starter. From the factory, they attach the vertical link to the hole farthest back. If you move it to the hole that is forward, closer to the starter, it takes less travel to shift. I have always preferred that setting.

[LowRyter]

mine did the same thing.

here was the deal: Look at the chrome cover next to the floorboard and look for a small dent.  That's where the shifter linkage is hitting the cover when you shift to third gear.  Adjust the linkage so the cover doesn't interfere with the linkage.  But the trick is it to adjust it when you have it 2nd so you can check it when you shift into 3rd.   Or remove the chrome cover and see if that fixes the problem.

But I never had a problem shifting to higher gears, so my advice is limited. 

[arveno]

thanks guys for your reply , the linkage looks in good shape .
I dont run floor boards , i put mid controls form a T .
I will check the pivot bushing ....
Transmission feels very hard to shift , so hard....
I down shift easy ....