Truck is a 1992 with the 5 speed. Around 125k miles. To my understanding, the original clutch is still there, and the original tranny fluid. Fluid almost looks red like generic ATF. Does not smell burnt.

Now going into 2-5 up shift or down shift, works perfect.

Going into first when completley stopped, not so perfect. The highest speed I have put the transmission into first was about 10mph and did not let the clutch out. To go into first like it should, I need to be moving about 2-3 mph.

When I am completley stopped, I must FORCE it into first. Force hard. My hand slipped off once and I cut myself on the dash somewhere.

Clutch does not slip under acceleration, transmission fluid does not smell burnt. That is my car transmission knowledge. What could be causing it to not want to go into first? What should I check?

Thanks for any help/ideas, or ask a specific question I can answer to help narrow it down.

 

CHeck your slave cyinder fluid level ... that may be low.... but it sounds like your slave cylinder is leaking. i have had that problem a couple times. ANd with 125k on it since the trans will be out anyways might as well replace the clutch while u are there.

 

Any easy way to check the fluid level? Without dropping the transmission?

Why would this only do it going into first?

 

ttt

 

there is a resovior near your brake master cylinder that is where you check your fluid level.

as for it only happening in first ... i may be wrong here but in my understanding your gears are spinning once you are moving, and technically you do not even need to push in ur clutch to shift gears. the sincros will line them selves up in higher rpms is how i understand that part. so when you are at a dead stop your gears are not moving which will cause it hard to engange ... maybe someone with more technical knowledge will chime in ... to help out ... im not sure how to explain

 

My truck was a little picky going into first from a dead stop too. If i start to push it in, then back it out and push it back in again, it worked much more smoothly. I think ford built them this way to somehow discourage racing in a ranger? You're not the only one who this's happened to though.

 

Exactly. Or if I put it into 4th, then first (while at a dead stop), goes in fine.

Ranger Boy, you can shift w/o a clutch at any RPM, as long as the engine is at the rpm that it will be in the next gear.

 

Try pulling into 2nd gear first....then into first gear. That would help with mine. I've since change out my tranny fluid and put Amsoil in and haven't had near the problems with shifting since.

 

This is a way of tricking the syncro's it seems, cause it works for me as well.. As well as 5th to 3rd, rubbing it into 4th, and then 3rd is alot easier...

 

I can put in any synthetic gear fluid then?

 

Mine does the same thing. After reading this today, I am now putting it in 2nd, then up into 1st. Much better than man-handling it into 1st. Maybe a fluid change is in order then...

 

I put in Amsoil ATF Universal Automatic Transmission Fluid. Its made to replace Mercon and Mercon V fluids.

 

I wouldnt put synethic in a 92... I think it would hurt more than help...

 

Topped it off today, shifted like a dream. Sooooo smoothe..... Guess the transmission is coming out sometime soon. :(

 

ya over 100000 on the stock clutch your about due mine is going soon on mine and i havent even hit 100000 I am kinda pissed but my truck sat ALOT for like 4 years i think that might have had something to do with it

 

i just replaced mine in my mustang the other day king cobra racing clutch shifts like a dream

 

WAIT!!!... I think I know what's up... seriously... I went onto howstuffworks.com or whatever and it made me understand things so much better in my truck. See... when you're at a red light in neutral with the clutch out, the gears in the trany are still spinning. When you go try and get into first, the dog teeth are trying to fight their way into holes on the 1st gear because it's spinning and the collar/driveshaft isn't. Try this and see... if I'm wrong, then whatever, but I kinda have this same problem sometimes... when the light turns yellow or you know it's just about to, depress the clutch and let it sit for a sec to give the gears a chance to slow down/stop, BEFORE putting it into gear. Try it. It might be the reason and could save you from having to do some work... here's the link I went to...

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/transmission3.htm

Ok, so some of you are like "well then why wouldn't this happen all the time? why is this happening now when it didn't before?" and honestly, I don't know. But I DO KNOW that this same kinda thing happens to me every now and then and I don't remember it ever happening before.

 

redneckstone, clutch grabs hard, still strong, just had the amount of work involved, so I will just replace everything while it is apart, output seal, gasket, etc.

Oasis, it does it either way.

 

My 96 has 155,000 miles on the same factory clutch its still doing good but since i gave that truck to my mom i need to replace it before it messes up with her out somewhere