Basic Transmission Questions

About 80+ percent of the time when I try to put the stick into first gear it won't go in.  It will feel like something is blocking it from going in like the gears are misaligned. (NOTE* Clutch is indeed all the way pressed down)  This problem is easily fixed by first putting it into second gear which it will smoothly go in and then putting it into 1st.  Although there are sometimes that even after putting it into second gear and then trying to put it into first it will still feel stuck like something is jammed up so it doesn't want to go in smoothly, I can easily fix this by letting go of the clutch then repressing it then doing the whole second gear then first gear routine.

I pretty much got use to always putting it into second before first so its not that big of a deal.  

Anyone have a similar problem?

also

I want to replace the transmission fluid but I'm not sure how to do it.  
a) how do you check the transmission fluid level on the vg30e?
b) how do you replace the fluid ( I read that you can fill it from where ur shiftstick comes out of?)
c) what would be the recommended transmission oil? I have read gl-4... what brand is best?

Also any thoughts on drain and refill vs transmission flush.. i hear good and bad of the transmission flush.

If you hold the clutch down and slowly shift into reverse do you hear the gears mesh? It's a ratcheting sound, grinding perhaps. If yes then, for what ever reason, the clutch is not fully disengaging and the counter shaft is being driven by the motor. A dragging clutch will also make it difficult to engage first.

Check tranny oil: Look on the front case on the left (driver's side) about half way up the side. There is a fill plug. Remove and the oil level should be up level with the bottom of the hole. Reach in with your finger tip to check.

Drain tranny oil: Look below the fill plug down to the very bottom of the tranny. There is a drain plug. Remove to drain the oil. The drain bung has a magnet on it so wipe off any residue. A clean one will give you a base reading of metallic particles collected at the next oil change. A black very fine paste is normal... filings, chips or BBs are not.  

Fill the tranny: From the driver's side of the engine, slide a 4 foot length of garden hose down and into the tranny fill hole. Get a kitchen funnel from a dollar store and push into the top end. Add 4 pts of GL-4 or good quality synthetic. 4 pts is approximate. Full is when oil is level with the bottom of hole. So have extra and someone to watch and catch any spillage. Change every 30,000 miles. Transmission shops must have come up with flushing to make extra money. It's not an engine. Change the oil every 30K and you won't have any problems.

or drop the pan and change the tranny filter as well..? I assume it has one.. most do.. oh wait.. manual trans.. never mind...

sometimes its wise to loosen off the fill plug and make sure you can get it out first.. nothing sucks like draining it only to find out you gotta perform surgery to get the fill plug out..