Topic: AX5 Hard To Shift Into 1st Gear From Neutral When Stopped

[SamsonJR]

there's trans oil inside so there shouldn't be a need to lubricate the bearings, if that is the case they'd blow up before you can lubricate again

he's talking about the rail detent balls and springs, those if seized would cause the trans to jump out of gear, nothing to do with shifting into the gear unless it blocks the rail from moving, i haven't seen it happening that way but that doesn't mean it can't - i doubt would be your issue though.

Yeah that's it the spring, ball and plug. I babied the jeep home and called my dad, that's what he told me to do, After doing it I was able to get the tranny into 1st and 2nd, but had to move the shifter around a lot to get it smooth, right after that I changed the oil. never had a problem with it after that

[DanMarino]

It's been a while, but I wanted to update this.
Last week I had the original clutch changed out in my YJ.  Clutch had 198,000 miles on it and was original from the Jeep assembly line.

Now that the new clutch kit was installed, the AX-5 happily shifts into first gear.  It appears that the clutch was not fully disengaging (or it took several seconds for that to happen). 

I'm very happy with how it shifts now, so hopefully it seems that my synchros are fine.