Banshee Trans Gear Question

[XonXoff]

My son recently bought a '96 Banshee. Real fast, fresh motor, etc.

 

He hasn't ridden it much but got on it last weekend, put it in first gear and the engine died. It's locked up in 1st gear, won't roll forward or back (well a few inches, but I figured out why), even with the clutch in, no neutral, other gears were OK. Put it in first and everything locks. Checked all external stuff. So I figured it's a broken gear or some such. Rip the thing apart, all gears look fine. Try to find a Clymer manual locally, no luck. Stare at the transmission for a long time. Wiggle some things. Shift from the star with the linkage off since it sounds like adjustment is a real big deal on these. Still the same problems. Stare at it some more hoping it would fix itself. Didn't work.

 

But from the minute I opened it up, there was this one gear that looked suspicious to me. It would not align with the tangs of the splined gear next to it. Real close, but not quite, which didn't look right. (I don't know what these things are, they're on the side of some gears and 'fit' into spaces on the gear next to it. I call 'em tangs.)

 

This thing will not shift into 6th gear and I don't know if it would before either. But it won't now. At least not with this front trans shaft in place, which also makes me think this stuck gear is the culprit.

 

So anyway, even though this gear doesn't look like it's been hot, I think it is seized to the shaft. Based on the Troy Racing website, I think it's called the 5TH PINION GEAR (22T). I think it should spin freely (when the neighboring gears tangs aren't engaged) but it's locked solid. Still can't get a #&$^ Clymer manual locally. One shop should have them this week. Online will take just as long. I'm not real patient when it comes down to "should it spin or not"... So I took a pic of this trans with an arrow pointing to this particular gear and I'm wondering if there's a kind trans expert in this forum (or maybe someone who has a trans on the bench) who can simply tell me if this gear is supposed to be spinning freely on the shaft. The pic should be attached to this post. (If that doesn't work, I'll follow up with a link.) Btw, the orange coloration in the bottom left on the gears is a lighting thing. They don't look like that.

 

Any help is appreciated. Thanks!

[SDD]

On Off that gear should spin freely on the shaft if the transmission is in neutral. I suspect the motor was run low on gear oil to the point where the gear welded itself on the shaft. You need to take the gears off that shaft to see the full extent of damage.

[JKJK]

yes that gear should spinn freely,i'm not a expert,had one open on the bench. great job troubleshooting! the two end+two center gears on that shaft are splined to it+the other two should spin.hope that helps.

[XonXoff]

Thanks guys. I do appreciate it. I think that's the root of the problem. I worked in a garage for 15 years and have seen a number of things seized and generaly there's some discoloration. But not on this thing. It looks perfectly normal, there are no shavings anywhere, etc. Clip and washer are in place. It did stink when we pulled the cover, though.

 

Oh well, I appreciate your time and effort. I'll start pulling gears and see where we stand.

 

I don't think it went low on oil but if it did, I gotta be thinking about crank and rod bearings too.

 

Hey, nice Nova or Chevy II in that pic!

 

Thanks for the help!

[JKJK]

your welcome,glad to be of some help to ya.thanks for the compliment on the nova.