Hello all. I'm having a issue with shifting gears in my 01 ranger edge. It started to get difficult and I decided I was going to change the master cylinder. Well I changed it and did all the proper bleeding techniques along with bench bleeding and gravity bleeding. After starting the truck it will not go into gear at all. I can see the slave cylinder compressing the clutch springs and I beleive its compressing them enough but not sure. Could it be anything else not allowing me to shift like a shift linkage or something? I checked tranny fluid and it's all good. Brand new master cylinder properly bled. I'm stuck? Any ideas?

 

Well, first thing is can you shift it on level ground with engine off?
If its still hard to shift then shift rails are most likely issue, transmission needs to be pulled out to repair.

If you can shift gears then it is a clutch issue.

Master cylinder will usually last the life of the vehicle, slave cylinder is the one that should be changed when new clutch disk is installed.

You can try to keep bleeding the system, Rangers are notoriously hard to clear the air on.
Because of the angle of the master it can get an air bubble at the top, there is a video on how to clear this bubble, regular bleeding won't do it.
Google: How To Bleed A Ford Ranger Clutch Master Cylinder

I assume the reservoir was full when the problem first started, so air in the system wasn't the issue.
If so, then your slave or pressure plate may be failing and trans will have to be pulled back or out to install new clutch system.

 

It has a brand new clutch pressure plate. I replaced it 3 months ago while I had the engine out. I had to put a crank kit in it due to a spun bearing. And yes the truck will go into gear just fine on level ground with the truck off. I hear they are notoriously hard to bleed because of cylinder angle but when I bleed it I'm getting good fluid out of the bleeder valve. Is it possible to still have some air in it? Thats what my buddy thinks anyways. Or could it be the slave? Like I said in previous post I can see the slave moving. I dunno I'm stumped on this one. But I didn't replace the slave cylinder when I put new clutch in but it was replaced several years back. Thank you for the reply. Any advice is much appreciated

 

Turns out I just found out I have a clutch pedal support bracket busted and lateral movement in the pedal in turn the clutch cylinder rod is not pushing in the master cylinder enough to disengage the clutch. That's what I found anyways. If anyone is having the same problem check that clutch and brake support bracket first. I'll let you guys know how it works out after I replace it.

 

That is odd on an '01.

1998 to 2006 should be the same clutch/brake pedal bracket, if you want to hit the wrecking yards.

Google: Ford 6L5Z-2455-BB

And just as a heads up, always change the slave cylinder, throw bearing and pilot bearing when ever the trans is away from the engine.
Flywheel, pressure plate and clutch disc can be done at your discretion.

Rangers also used a self-adjusting pressure plate, you don't have to use that type but clutch can be hard to disengage the first few thousand miles until the disc wears down a bit, because pedal will have to be all the way down to the floor + a 1/2 inch, lol.

 

Well I replaced the busted clutch pedal housing bracket which needed changing but unfortunately it didn't solve my problem so looks like I'm I'm yanking the tranny to replace the slave which I didn't do when I put new clutch in like a dummy. It's the only other option I know to do. I'll let you guys know how it turns out. Thanks for all the helpful information