gear lube vs. tranny fluid
Ive never heard of ATF in a stick. Seems like a terrible idea. I've always used whatever decently priced gear oil I could get my hands on.
ATF is common in standard transmissions, more so it seems in newer transmissions.
I know some of the bigger Chev trucks with standards in them demand ATF to lubricate and cool correctly.
The general rule that I go by would be, if it's got looser tolerances and uses ball bearings instead of needle bearings then a mid thickness (30-50wt) oil be used.
If it uses needle bearings for things like input and output shafts, or counter (lower shaft) gear, then ATF.
The thing is, the OEM style transmissions we use have a fair combination of both.
The main difference is that the counter gear uses pretty darn big needle bearings so as far as lubrication goes ATF or gear oil either one can work fine.
In my own oppinion the transmissions we use in these cars can be "adjusted" in the way they shift as well as how they downshift simply by changing the fluid viscosity, without much concern for damaging the trans.
On the other side of the coin a newer trans could lock up solid if you put gear oil in it because the oil was too thick to get to where it needs to be fast enough, or with enough volume.
I'm running atf in mine right now, seems to shift smooth but it doesn't like to shift down into 1st gear unless I'm damn near stopped. Is that normal for an 833?
It's not normal but not uncommon.
It's probably either a worn syncro ring or the fluid.
As stated the thinner fluid can cause issue's due to lack of consistancy to stop the gear from spinning so it can mesh up (1st in your case)
First gear is the smallest gear (physically) and is the hardest one to stop because it has less surface area for the syncro ring to drag against.
Most syncro ring wear is limited to second gear, being as that ring is usually the most and hardest used.
