Bench shifting question.... Options

[mzalanka]

For those who are actually familiar with the 901 tranny (I know there's a lot on here (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) )...

I just installed a rebuilt side shifter in my 75. Zero miles on the trans, acquired a half decade ago from a well known and regarded West Coast forum member who rebuilt it at a Dr Evil clinic.

Got the linkage set up perfectly. Shifts forward into 2nd with one finger. I am on year 6 of my project and the teener is not yet running, so I'm basically bench shifting it with the shifter, but in the car.

"Problem" is that it doesn't like to go into third, sometimes reverse. Shifts into 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th very smoothly, cold and sitting in garage. But especially 2nd to 3rd requires a lot of force & multiple attempts before it "clunks" into 3rd. Once it's in third, it will go back to neutral and third smooth, and also from 1st or 5th into third no prob. But it doesn't like to go back to 2nd or 4th and then back to third (*clunk*). (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

Same thing with reverse - sometimes it won't go and I need to go into another gear first, then it will go.

Again, this is all not running - just shifting cold in the car without engine running or using clutch.

It's taken me 6 years to get to this juncture - HEs are not yet on the engine so if I need to pull the trans to adjust something now's the time. Or, is it just a matter of bench shifting a cold, fresh rebuilt trans and I need to relax & wait till it's running and warm to know if there's a problem?

Opinions welcome. Thanks.