Any manual tranny, Always start in nuetral and then shift into 2nd before going to first. The condition you describe is NORMAL until you wear your synchros down a little. If they line up tooth to tooth with the master cluster not spinning, the synchros do not work. You are simply jamming synchro teeth together.
Letting the clutch out in nuetral spins the master cluster and then the syncs will work.

Simple really.

Same thing with reverse when you haven't moved or let out the clutch. Double clutchers would do this automaticaly 'cause they know what is actually going on inside the gearbox.


roadster with a stick