RE: Ask the Car Guy @socky Mar 1, 2019

Hi @socky

Car : 1991 Nissan Cefiro A31
Engine : RB25DET
Gearbox : RB25 R33 Push type
Clutch : OS Giken Super Single (Rebuilt 2017 May) (Flywheel, pressure plate, friction disk, floater disk)

So the problem is that I have difficulty shifting OUT of gear (to neutral) everytime when I slow the car down, right before a stop or a speedbump. It feels like the clutch is still dragging even though I fully depressed the clutch pedal.

Sometimes I have gear crunching whenever I do quickshifting, not all the time.

Another symptom is that there's a time when my car is on tow, facing backwards so I put the car in Reverse gear to prevent the car from rolling down because of my weak handbrakes. After towing to my desired location, I tried to clutch in and push the gear back to Neutral (engine was off) The gear seems to be jammed no matter how hard I try. I tried clutching in and start the car and the engine can hardly start, like having a weak battery (suspect that the clutch is still engaged maybe 50 to 70%). After a few attempts on cranking the engine while pushing the gear out of Reverse I can suddenly push it back to Neutral.

Master cylinder, slave cylinder replaced in 2017. Is there any chance that it's an issue from the RB25 gearbox ? synchros? bad throwout bearing? pivot fork?

As far as I know gears are suppose to be interchangeable *to Neutral no matter which gear you are in, even when the clutch is not depressed, just need to add a minimal amount of force to shift out. For my case, it's totally jammed.

Trying to diagnose the problem without wasting money repairing on irrelevant items....

Before replacing the master / slave cylinder, I have difficulties going INTO gear. After changing them, and also oil change, I've been having this problem since 2018... which is totally the other way round this time

Thank you.