I have a 1999 Ford Ranger with the 3.0L and a 5 speed. On the end of the shifter is a stock shifter kob with a diagram of the shift pattern... believe me when I tell you, that shift **** is TIGHT and is not rotating... however, it appears the entire stick shift shaft IS rotating. At any given time, the shift pattern may be rotated so that it is 90 degrees off... meaning it appears sideways... it can also move in the opposite direction... when it is off center like that, its much harder to shift into gears... particularly 3rd, which tends to grind... but when it moves back to the correct position, it shifts fine again...

Any ideas?

 

I think there is just a bolt at the bottom of the shift lever itself that holds it in place. Pull the boot and look under there. Could be worn enough to let it spin.

 

Try rotating the circle with the pattern on it in the middle of the ****. I've had that happen where it will move but the rest of the **** won't. I popped the circle out and glued it back down so it wouldn't move.

That shouldn't affect how hard it is to shift though...