Popping out of reverse

[JKATTY]

Bought an 88 yj with the 4.2 and BA 5/10 trans. It is popping out of reverse and I found all the prior threads relating to that problem. Took the boot off the gear shift last night and found that previous owner had already moved it back and cut the floor. There is no contact with the floor and shifter yet it still pops out of reverse. Everything else is smooth and I hate to spend the money to fix the BA 5/10. Since I plan is to replace it with the AX-15 once it's completely shot.
Question is, will it hurt the rest of the trans or anything else to continue to let it pop out? I can hold it in and feather the clutch and keep it from popping out most of the time. However, off road or up hill it is more difficult.
Thanks in advance for the replies.

 

[currupt4130]

It's probably worn to the point it won't stay in if there isn't any contact with the body tub or anything else interfering with it going into gear.

 

[LVRockCrawler]

Welcom to Jeepz! - you'll like it here! - anyway... i had that problem with 2nd or 3rd gear in my old jeep - its prob an internal prob and you either live w/it or R/R the transmission.... i just learned to hold it in gear or skip shift... g'luck

 

[Craig]

If you have a body lift, the shift boot might still be too tight even if it's moved back (it has to move further because it's higher up on the shifter)...especially on cold mornings when it's less elastic. I heated up my shifter and bent it to a position that would allow it to move freely forward and back without stretching the boot too much.

 

[KrazyJeeper]

I had a problem with 2nd gear after installing a three inch lift. I just dealt with it until I sold the TJ. I have another 2000 TJ now and had a 4 inch installed and don't have the problem. Good Luck but at least it's reverse and not one of your foreward gears.

 

[Bounty__Hunter]

I had the same problem with the same model trans in my '88 YJ. I just held it in reverse and it never got worse.

 

[ezwrangler]

I had the same problem in my 88yj and i lived with it for a couple years until it actually started getting worse. It then started popping out of 2nd as well. I ended up finding another Pukeshow transmission from a junked wrangler and put it in. That was four years ago and it's still doing OK, but it starting to pop out of reverse again...

 

[Megamole]

Same Jeep, Same Trans, Same problem, I hold the shifter in reverse. Mine has been doing it about a year since I put in the lift. Now the throwout bearing is making a little noise when the clutch is out. oh Well I will have to swap it when it dies. Just remember this trans uses a different input shaft spline count then the AX15. They don't match up.

 

[JKATTY]

Well, I no longer have reverse at all now. Having an AX-15 swap done. Will come with a 12 month 12k mile warranty. I will let you all know how it goes. Thanks for the replies.

 

[Carrie Ann]

Have the exact jeep as yours

I have the same problem, did this work for you?

Same Jeep, Same Trans, Same problem, I hold the shifter in reverse. Mine has been doing it about a year since I put in the lift. Now the throwout bearing is making a little noise when the clutch is out. oh Well I will have to swap it when it dies. Just remember this trans uses a different input shaft spline count then the AX15. They don't match up.