Been having trouble with shifting my gears on my 2001 manual transmission. It doesn't like to go into gear if I have been driving it a bit. Doesn't want to go into first, then I will have trouble getting it into second, and it will get easier the higher I go up. There isn't any noise or any grinding. Its just like I have to fight the stick to get it in sometimes. I've tried being as gentle and patient with it as possible, but there have been occasions where I felt it was past the reasonable amount of time for it to shift. My clutch doesn't feel like it is sticking at all. It was replaced, as well as the master and slave cylinders, a couple years ago (roughly 15,000). There seems to be consistent pressure against the clutch, and I can feel it engaging and disengaging. Its actually throwing me off because I think I should be able to shift as I did on the ranger, an identical twin, that I just replaced. I don't know much about the history of the issue or how long it has been happening as I have just bought it. I've read that it could be the linkage, and someone told me it is possible that the clutch wasn't bled correctly and should do that. I don't know much about checking either of those things and haven't found what I felt to be sufficient information to start getting into it yet. Im not the most mechanically inclined guy, but I can be pretty handy and have worked through a couple of things with success. Thank you for the help.

 

You have an M5OD-R1 transmission in your 2001 Ranger

Doesn't read like a clutch issue

On the drivers side of the transmission there are 2 larger bolt heads, one at the bottom towards the rear(drain), one higher up and in the middle, the upper one is the Fill hole for adding ATF, yes automatic transmission fluid in a manual trans, no spelling mistake, lol

Remove this bolt and see if ATF drips out, it should if transmission is full.
If not add some.

BUT..... it may be time to change fluid as well, 15 years old now.
Ford Mercon V ATF is specified.

It takes just over 2 quarts so get 3 quarts.

Fluid in trans should be a nice reddish color, it starts going darker and blackish when its time for a change, stick your finger or a stick into the Fill hole and see what color the fluid is now.

You need a hand pump to get ATF into fill hole.
You can get units like these at autoparts stores: https://www.amazon.com/Plews-55001-L.../dp/B000BQW5LK

 

Thank you. I will check on that. I would assume it was taken care of when the original owner had the clutch work done but who knows.

 

Check out these video's for bleeding the clutch.


The beginning (and near the end) of that second video shows how far the clutch needs to move when the pedal is pressed. Maybe the clutch isn't moving as far as it should so that it's fully disengaged.