Ok all, here's the issue. I have a 97 F3, with 39K miles and counting. I changed the main and countershaft and all the gears about 6 months ago, for a second gear that was popping out. At the same time, I changed the sprockets and chain for good measure. So fast forward 6 months, now it is doing something different, although still a tranny issue. The chain stretched out, ridiculously so, that I thought it was just a reeeaaaly cheap chain, which it was. So I slap yet another chain and sprocket on it last week, a good quality one by the way, and without the chain on its making a sound like a bell. Almost like one of the drive gears is hitting one of the counter shaft gears intermittently. This only happens when its in gear, and clutch out. In neutral, clutch out, it sounds normal. No metal in the oil, and I tore the engine apart again, and see no damage or anything indicating the bell sound. With the chain on, it looks like the transmission is starting and abruptly stopping, then jerking forward again, which would explain my stretched chain. Im at a loss, and thinking about putting my old main and countershaft back on, with the exception of the second gears. Any thoughts?

 

That's not good if its starting to lockup, did you use the same year parts, and make sure all the washers etc are all on the shaft with the gears so there's no play in them.

 

Yea, same year, and all the washers and clips are there according to the manual. I'm putting it back together with my original shaft today, and see what happens...