Over the past couple of months it has become increasingly difficult to shift into first gear. There's no grinding involved and it feels more like it's the shifting mechanism itself, maybe the clutch, but not the transmission. So today the entire shift knob broke off when I was putting it in first gear at a stoplight. I was able to put the knob back on the shifter, but the 5th gear is no longer available, which is a problem since I have a 30min. freeway commute to work. I was wondering if anyone else has had a similar problem with a difficult first gear (I swear I have muscle tone on my left arm since this problem creeped up) and what the probable causes might be. Since it's Saturday afternoon, there's not a repair shop open that I could get an estimate from or to determine the cause. I was hoping to get some idea of the magnitude of this problem. There's no problem in getting a new gear shifter, complete with the 5th gear button, but the hard shift is where the real problem is and a new shifter would probably end up in this same situation down the road due to the physical stress of almost forcing it into gear. Thanks so much if anyone has advice to offer.

87 740 GLE 2.8L 225000 miles.

The shift knobs are a standard replacement part available from Volvo, and also I've seen them on Ebay recently- list price is in the $10-15 range. The new ones arent' an exact replacement, since I think you have a smooth one and the new ones all have a kind of faux-leather texture molded in, but no matter, the trans shifter rod is the same and they fit perfectly.
You need to swap over the end cap and switch off yours and reconnect the wires to it- very small needlenose pliers will work and not much else will.
The wires hopefully aren't broken off but if they are, the ends can be replaced. Most parts stores or Home Depot for that matter will stock small terminals like that. The shift knob just pushes onto the shaft and hopefully you're done. Test the OD button before pressing it on. You could have blown the fuse when the wires parted, so check that first.

Also, next time you're under the car, just make sure that the ball at the bottom of the shift rod isn't falling out through the bracket- this causes excess stress on everything (you have to pull UP to shift at all) and repair means installing a new socket/plastic bushing under there. Not the end of the world but a little bit tight access.
Good luck!
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Rob Bareiss, New London CT ::: 86 244DL, 87 244DL, 88 744GLE, 91 244: 808K total

the shifter knob itself won't solve your problem. While when the knob came off it broke wires that go inside shifter shaft and exit at bottom through rubber boot and terminate at a connector. This will most likely need to be replaced
You can "pull" new wire up through shaft and then make connection to od switch after super gluing new knob. Before gluing be sure and clean splines of shifter shaft. Acetone works well.

as for hard to get into first, you may have same problem I had which is the support bracket broke. Mine was progressive and eventually broke completely.
I thought I needed new syncros! there are four bars which support shifter cup and as they brake the geometry changes and it gets hard to put in gear, especially 1st and 2nd.

Replaced and I could swear I had new trannie!

Also make sure the reverse adjustment braket hasn't slipped, but these were put on pretty tight from factory.

good luck!

Joe

Same as my 89 745ti..replace knob and all got better...you might have severed or shorted the overdrive button and therefore cant get into 5th...once you get new knob the transmission will feel brand new. 185k