Honda Car Forum

I have an '89 Legend 2dr coupe with a 5 speed manual transmission
that always wants to pop out of 2nd gear.

1) Is this a known problem with this tranny..??
2) Is there a known fix for the problem?

Any help would be appreciated.

"DANA GEORGE" <ddgeorge1@verizon.net> wrote in
news:Y1d1g.4405$V73.2055@trnddc06:

> I have an '89 Legend 2dr coupe with a 5 speed manual transmission
> that always wants to pop out of 2nd gear.
>
> 1) Is this a known problem with this tranny..??
> 2) Is there a known fix for the problem?
>
> Any help would be appreciated.
>
>


Worn front engine mount, probably. That, or worn dog teeth.

How many miles?
Do you know the car's maintenance history?

--
TeGGeR®

The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
www.tegger.com/hondafaq/

TeGGer,
The car has 155k on the odometer and I have no maintenance records for
the first 100k.
You can still use 2nd gear but you have to hold it there about 95% of
the time, especially when you lift off on the gas.
The problem came on pretty sudden and the shifter actually feels like
some kind of soft rubber ball or something had fallen down inside the
shifter boot and was blocking the linkage but I have pulled the console and
eliminated that theory.
I don't know whether that gives you any more insight or not and
thanks,I appreciate your time.
dana
"TeGGeR®" <tegger@tegger.c0m> wrote in message
news:Xns97A9C2B3A5C0Etegger@207.14.113.17...
> "DANA GEORGE" <ddgeorge1@verizon.net> wrote in
> news:Y1d1g.4405$V73.2055@trnddc06:
>
> > I have an '89 Legend 2dr coupe with a 5 speed manual transmission
> > that always wants to pop out of 2nd gear.
> >
> > 1) Is this a known problem with this tranny..??
> > 2) Is there a known fix for the problem?
> >
> > Any help would be appreciated.
> >
> >
>
>
> Worn front engine mount, probably. That, or worn dog teeth.
>
> How many miles?
> Do you know the car's maintenance history?
>
> --
> TeGGeR®
>
> The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
> www.tegger.com/hondafaq/

"DANA GEORGE" <ddgeorge1@verizon.net> wrote in
news:JSj3g.21421$9v3.13221@trnddc08:

> TeGGer,
> The car has 155k on the odometer and I have no maintenance
> records for
> the first 100k.
> You can still use 2nd gear but you have to hold it there about
> 95% of
> the time, especially when you lift off on the gas.
> The problem came on pretty sudden and the shifter actually feels
> like
> some kind of soft rubber ball or something had fallen down inside the
> shifter boot and was blocking the linkage but I have pulled the
> console and eliminated that theory.
> I don't know whether that gives you any more insight or not and
> thanks,I appreciate your time.



It sure sounds like a worn engine mount. Also, I'm not familiar with the
Legend's shifter setup, but it's possible the shift lever bushings are also
worn out.

--
TeGGeR®

The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
www.tegger.com/hondafaq/

TeGGer-
A rather interesting development in this mystery.... I drained the
transaxle oil and what do I find in my drain pan but a small, stiff spring
and a steel (detent?) ball....
The original scope of this project was to replace the clutch & pressure
plate with this 2nd gear problem being a secondary issue but after having
found the ball & spring I guess I best pop the tranny open and see whats
involved in resolving this problem too.
Thanks once again for your time. I'll let you know what I find.
~dana

"TeGGeR®" <tegger@tegger.c0m> wrote in message
news:Xns97B04EAD6BC0Btegger@207.14.113.17...
> "DANA GEORGE" <ddgeorge1@verizon.net> wrote in
> news:JSj3g.21421$9v3.13221@trnddc08:
>
> > TeGGer,
> > The car has 155k on the odometer and I have no maintenance
> > records for
> > the first 100k.
> > You can still use 2nd gear but you have to hold it there about
> > 95% of
> > the time, especially when you lift off on the gas.
> > The problem came on pretty sudden and the shifter actually feels
> > like
> > some kind of soft rubber ball or something had fallen down inside the
> > shifter boot and was blocking the linkage but I have pulled the
> > console and eliminated that theory.
> > I don't know whether that gives you any more insight or not and
> > thanks,I appreciate your time.
>
>
>
> It sure sounds like a worn engine mount. Also, I'm not familiar with the
> Legend's shifter setup, but it's possible the shift lever bushings are
also
> worn out.
>
> --
> TeGGeR®
>
> The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
> www.tegger.com/hondafaq/

"Dana George" <ddgeorge1@verizon.net> wrote in
news:ZqA3g.20019$HC3.16448@trnddc07:

> TeGGer-
> A rather interesting development in this mystery.... I drained
> the
> transaxle oil and what do I find in my drain pan but a small, stiff
> spring and a steel (detent?) ball....



Now that's an odd one. I wonder if the tranny was rebuilt at some point and
not reassembled correctly, or if the casting is broken somewhere. I've
never heard of this before.

Does the spring appear broken?


--
TeGGeR®

The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
www.tegger.com/hondafaq/

TeGGeR-
The spring isn't broken so that was the 1st thing I asked myself...
what had to happen to let the ball and spring fall out..??
I'll find out soon when I crack it open, I'll let you know what I find.
-dana

"TeGGeR®" <tegger@tegger.c0m> wrote in message
news:Xns97B0E447B8DF2tegger@207.14.113.17...
> "Dana George" <ddgeorge1@verizon.net> wrote in
> news:ZqA3g.20019$HC3.16448@trnddc07:
>
> > TeGGer-
> > A rather interesting development in this mystery.... I drained
> > the
> > transaxle oil and what do I find in my drain pan but a small, stiff
> > spring and a steel (detent?) ball....
>
>
>
> Now that's an odd one. I wonder if the tranny was rebuilt at some point
and
> not reassembled correctly, or if the casting is broken somewhere. I've
> never heard of this before.
>
> Does the spring appear broken?
>
>
> --
> TeGGeR®
>
> The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
> www.tegger.com/hondafaq/

Tegger,
Just a quick update... The ball & spring didn't come out of the
drain plug... they came out of what I thought was a drain plug. Oh well...
Still haven't split the tranny open yet.. was waiting for a manual which a
friend dropped off today.
Unfortunately, the manual covers the tranny but not the clutch, P/P or
flywheel. You wouldn't happen to know where I could find any specs on the
flywheel would you. It has a 'stepped' surface, if thats the correct term.
I would like to get the surface trued but not sure what tolerances and etc
are allowed before a person has to replace it.
Any help would be much appreciated.
thanks,
-dana
"Dana George" <ddgeorge1@verizon.net> wrote in message
news:7KU3g.25826$HC3.1860@trnddc07...
> TeGGeR-
> The spring isn't broken so that was the 1st thing I asked myself...
> what had to happen to let the ball and spring fall out..??
> I'll find out soon when I crack it open, I'll let you know what I find.
> -dana
>
> "TeGGeR®" <tegger@tegger.c0m> wrote in message
> news:Xns97B0E447B8DF2tegger@207.14.113.17...
> > "Dana George" <ddgeorge1@verizon.net> wrote in
> > news:ZqA3g.20019$HC3.16448@trnddc07:
> >
> > > TeGGer-
> > > A rather interesting development in this mystery.... I drained
> > > the
> > > transaxle oil and what do I find in my drain pan but a small, stiff
> > > spring and a steel (detent?) ball....
> >
> >
> >
> > Now that's an odd one. I wonder if the tranny was rebuilt at some point
> and
> > not reassembled correctly, or if the casting is broken somewhere. I've
> > never heard of this before.
> >
> > Does the spring appear broken?
> >
> >
> > --
> > TeGGeR®
> >
> > The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
> > www.tegger.com/hondafaq/
>
>

"Dana George" <ddgeorge1@verizon.net> wrote in message
news:fJz5g.39223$C63.11825@trnddc06...
> Tegger,
> Just a quick update... The ball & spring didn't come out of the
> drain plug... they came out of what I thought was a drain plug. Oh
> well...
> Still haven't split the tranny open yet.. was waiting for a manual which a
> friend dropped off today.
> Unfortunately, the manual covers the tranny but not the clutch, P/P or
> flywheel. You wouldn't happen to know where I could find any specs on the
> flywheel would you. It has a 'stepped' surface, if thats the correct
> term.
> I would like to get the surface trued but not sure what tolerances and etc
> are allowed before a person has to replace it.
> Any help would be much appreciated.
> thanks,
> -dana

Dunno if it applies to your Legend, but you should be aware of what we went
through with the pilot bearing on my son's Integra. We had a devil of a time
getting the pilot bearing out of the flywheel. We finally broke down and
removed the flywheel... then found the bearing can only come out from the
back! Live and learn and curse.

Btw - the flywheel was in great shape so we elected not to have it turned;
we just Scotchbrited the surface to deglaze it and cleaned it with brake
cleaner.

Mike

Mike,
Thanks for your feedback. For some unknown reason the Acura engineers
felt that a pilot bushing was not necessary on the Legend which explains why
I am most likely looking at replacing the bearings on the trannys main
shaft.
~dana

"Michael Pardee" <michaeltnull@cybertrails.com> wrote in message
news:c9ydnVYp08KjU8vZRVn-jQ@sedona.net...
> "Dana George" <ddgeorge1@verizon.net> wrote in message
> news:fJz5g.39223$C63.11825@trnddc06...
> > Tegger,
> > Just a quick update... The ball & spring didn't come out of the
> > drain plug... they came out of what I thought was a drain plug. Oh
> > well...
> > Still haven't split the tranny open yet.. was waiting for a manual which
a
> > friend dropped off today.
> > Unfortunately, the manual covers the tranny but not the clutch, P/P
or
> > flywheel. You wouldn't happen to know where I could find any specs on
the
> > flywheel would you. It has a 'stepped' surface, if thats the correct
> > term.
> > I would like to get the surface trued but not sure what tolerances and
etc
> > are allowed before a person has to replace it.
> > Any help would be much appreciated.
> > thanks,
> > -dana
>
> Dunno if it applies to your Legend, but you should be aware of what we
went
> through with the pilot bearing on my son's Integra. We had a devil of a
time
> getting the pilot bearing out of the flywheel. We finally broke down and
> removed the flywheel... then found the bearing can only come out from the
> back! Live and learn and curse.
>
> Btw - the flywheel was in great shape so we elected not to have it turned;
> we just Scotchbrited the surface to deglaze it and cleaned it with brake
> cleaner.
>
> Mike
>
>