It really seems like there's a list of items that you can do to ensure that your transmission is in the best shape it possibly can be, short of an entire transmission rebuild:

1. Replace clutch fluid (can use billman method, in which you clean out the reservoir using a turkey baster or a fluid transfer pump from Harbor Freight, clean it up with a paper towel and refill. No need to pump/repeat)
2. Adjust clutch free play (DIYGuys video on YouTube:
   You Tube
   )
3. Transmission fluid replacement
4. Shifter regrease
5. Engine mounts (not joking)

I think following these steps in order will get your shifter to feel the best it possibly can.

 

I'll add even more to this thread because people are on a potential hardware tangent (they're not necessarily wrong, either) I did all of the above listed. New clutch, proper grease, rebuilt shifter, new fluid, pedal adjusted proper, new cmc and slave, stiffer mouns, braided clutch line, the works. On a 50k mile car with only 1 previous owner, and everything was well maintained (you can't hide these things). Every Honda that I've owned was also of low(er) mileage (within 50k or so). Guess what?! Still notchy 2nd gear. Still an occasional grind. But what others said: Above 4 grand, but if I may also add.....these transmissions don't like banging into 2nd gear at 9 grand either....ask me how I know. You wanna have a good time? That's fine! But only after you get into 2nd gear lol.

Feel free to do all the diagnosing and replace the parts listed above; maybe you do have an issue. But just be aware that there's a huge potential that this will still happen. At a certain point you just need to accept the quirks that come with owning a Honda. There's plenty of other manufacturers transmissions that will never grind 2nd gear no matter what you do, but I can almost guarantee you that they're nowhere near as satisfying to row, and that's not just my opinion...it's a pretty widely accepted fact across the board. Bitching about a notchy/grindy gear is just par for the course when it comes to Hondas...never heard anyone complain about anything beyond that though, unless they were just a complete stickler who's never happy with anything/any car.

Whatever you do though, don't start going down the rabbit hole of transmission fluids...there's some that play better with our trans than others...but your results can and will vary...if there was a cure-all fluid, we'd all be running the same stuff....And then you have the guys mixing different fluids making "cocktails"...I wish this board allowed for proper emojis that weren't archaic...cuz I'd be dropping multiple facepalms and skulls right now.

Also, because I can talk all day if I don't stop myself....Ap2s aren't as satisfying as the ap1 in regards to the heavier mass flywheel and the delay valve in the slave. You need to be more deliberate and self-conscious with an Ap2 (drove my friends stock car back-to-back with my own). The ap2 was made to appeal a bit better to the mass market - lazier shifting for people just commuting...On my ap1 I can shift a lot faster without needing to think about it nearly as much, but the deal with 2nd gear still stands. You try to drive your car the same way after driving mine and it will make for pretty jerky shifts. Not shitting over ap2s nor am I starting an ap1 vs ap2 debate here....otherwise people wouldn't advocate nearly anyone doing a new clutch in an ap2 to go with an ap1 flywheel and slave...It just is what it is. You can't shift an ap2 like you'd shift an ap1 (stock vs stock) just like you can't shift a Honda like you'd shift something else. 3 options left: Get used to it, adapt, and accept how your trans likes to be fondled, -OR- change the 2 parts mentioned above while still understanding that even though things improved, it's not entirely "remedied", -OR- get another car, lol.

 

Yeah, this is excellent advice as well. I still struggle with a slightly notchy second gear as well, although mostly when the car is running cold. Third gear is the one that's weird, still looking into that. That one is definitely not normal.

I think just doing those items and accepting that "this is how my shifter feels" is the best way to go. All steps up until step 4 will run you $50 combined (brake fluid, transmission fluid).

There are probably some fluids that aren't good, but it seems like the standard recommendations are all going to be pretty solid: Royal Purple, Honda MTF, Amsoil... etc. I won't step into the war either, but it seems like you can't go wrong with any of them.

 

I still do get annoyed though when I'm cruising around a densely populated neighborhood in my sweet sweet ride and I make myself look like a doofus when 2nd doesn't wanna play nice cuz I wasn't paying enough attention....that's always a tuck my head into my collar moment usually.

 

Agreed - I've always tried to use the "tried and true" and trusted brands of high-quality fluids. I don't think I've ever really played with anything else aside from the "new blend" Honda MTF, Amsoil Synchromesh, or Redline.

 

Just got my S2k about a month ago and noticed that 4th gear gets sticky when the trans is cold. I've not heard about shifting above 4300 RPM. I'll give that a shot the nice time I'm out and about. I have noticed that once the transmission is warmed up it's not as sticky. The gears never grind or anything, it's just it doesn't go into gear as smooth as the others.

 

Mine did the same thing after I replaced the fluids with non OEM stuff. Switched back to oem and it returned to perfect. Then, must master cylinder went out out it was all jacked up. Replaced that and it’s been perfect ever since.

 

Helped a friend install a shifter rebuild kit, which solved the same problems that you are experiencing. Good luck