I have the same issue with my Diplomat. Sometimes hard to shift into first from neutral.
I've blocked the pedal to the floor, it had plenty of air gap and the disc spun very freely when i crawled underneath. I really thought i was having a clutch dragging or even pilot bearing issue, but it doesnt seem to be the case.
I've got bell housing runout down to .003 or .004. Trans only has a few thousand miles on rebuild, Centerforce DF clutc, Sta-lube GL4 75w90, shifter is only a few years old.
The weird thing is that it usually only does it when the car is pointed down hill. Is it possible that the disc is just laying against the fly wheel and grabbing enough to spin the input shaft a little sometimes?
Have you tried 2nd or 3rd under those conditions ?? I really doubt the disc would be dragging when pointed downhill.
Usually when I've pulled it into second when it didn't want to go into first, it was a little stubborn but not nearly as stiff as first. Third, im not sure, never took note of it giving me any trouble.
If i let off the brakes and let it roll forward a tiny bit as i put it in gear it'll go right in.
Its just weird, because it seems like it only really does it at a few certain stop lights around town that are down hill. Can't say it does it at the uphill ones.
