Shifter locked up

[Ragtopman]

Heres what happened yesterday I was getting off the highway and slowing for the light at the end of the off ramp. I pulled the shift out of 5th yes I used the clutch and it would not go into any gears. I costed to the end then pushed the jeep off the road. The shifter would move left and right but not up and down into any gears. Then it went into 5th again. I tried to move it and stalled it to see if it would free up all it did was lock into 5th. The shifter did pull down but the transmission is locked in 5th. Anyone know what happeded? Am I looking at a rebuild? 91 YJ 4.0L AX15

 

[Sparky-Watts]

I'd say bent or broken shift forks in the transmission. Prolly got a piece wedged in there somewhere, not letting it move anymore. Sounds like a rebuild....yup.

 

[Snitty]

I'd say it sounds more like its time to look for a replacement. Rebuilding an AX15 is not a walk in the park

 

[Bounty__Hunter]

Drain the fluid and check it for a brass colored glitter. Likely bad synchronizers due to running the factory recommended GL5 gear oil.

It's possible you can replace the fluid with Redline MT90, through the shifter opening, and get some more life out of that transmission.

 

[TwistedCU]

through the shifter opening

why is that?

 

[redrooster]

Did you try shifting it with the engine off?

I had the same thing happen once before due to a roll pin backing out of the shift fork and jamming the shifter. That was on a T-176 that had the removable top plate. Easy fix.

 

[Bounty__Hunter]

why is that?

Because the redline is a synthetic, and it'll coat the gears well through the shifter opening.

 

[lah2420]

Mine was doing that after I rebuilt it. Found out the 5th gear shift rail was bent slightly and kept the shift sleeve partially engaged. Looking at the shift fork, the fork would be harder to bend than the shift rail. The only way I could get it out of 5th was to put it in neutral with the transfer case in 4Lo. It would force itself out of gear then. The only other thing I can think of is if the syncro ring is binding.
As far as being hard to rebuild, I didn't think it was that bad. You just need the right tools. The only problem with the shift rail was that the previous owner swore it was just a bad syncro and I took him at his word. It pays to check everything yourself.