I just bought my 5 speed and i was wondering how i'm supposed to check if its good before i try to put it in the car. How do i see if it goes in all the gears? i could move that little U-bracket where the shifter rods connect but then i pushed it in and it got stuck like...pushed all the way in.
Also, what else should i replace on the transmission as far as inside the bell housing area...theres that fork and then a rusty looking bearing (pilot bearing?)
thanks

 

That rusty looking bearing is the throwout bearing. Change it.

If you want to ensure the tranny is good, take it to a tranny shop and pay them one hour of labor to take it apart and inspect the bearings any synchros.

Dave

 

good post chillin.. i was wondering this for a while

 

i wonder how much an hour of labor is....
Im still curious as to how to shift through the gears with it as it is right now (off the car).

 

1) a average shop labor rate is like 80 bucks
2) a series of up/down and forward/back motions

pay a shop if you dont know what you are looking at.

 

Take a phillips head screwdriver and insert it into the flange holes. Push and pull. I sometimes use a rubber mallet to tap it in/out.

Dave