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From: 2212msr@whuts.UUCP (ROBIN)
Newsgroups: net.auto.tech
Subject: Re: pre fully synchro'd gearbox owners tip
Message-ID: <526@whuts.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 4-Feb-86 08:25:55 EST
Article-I.D.: whuts.526
Posted: Tue Feb  4 08:25:55 1986
Date-Received: Wed, 5-Feb-86 04:49:34 EST
References: <9700001@hplabsb.UUCP> <2899@ut-ngp.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories
Lines: 15

> 
> This works on circa 1980 Volvos, too.  They are notorious
> for being difficult to put in reverse directly (crunch, crunch).
> A quick flick of the gearshift into any forward gear first
> eliminates the problem.
> 
> Mark Bernstein
Just as a point of reference, virtually all Volvo transmissions prior to 
1976  (i.e. M40/41,M400/M410) were happier if you engaged 2nd prior to reverse.
In fact, many of the older owner's manuals used to make a point of recommending
this.  Having owned (or currently owning) 9 Volvos of various models, I find
that the newer transmissions, i.e. the one in my '85 245DL wagon, appear to be
somewhat lighter and don't 'feel' as robust as the earlier ones, especially
the M40/42 used on 164s starting in '69, 1800s starting in '71 and in 140 series
starting in '72.  Those transmissions were virtually indestructible.