OK, this is worrisome:
Two months ago Midas (St. Louis) installed a brand new clutch kit in
my little Ranger. And it ran great. Nothing like a NEW clutch to kick you
into gear.

Now... over the last two weeks, this has happened twice: upon starting up in the
morning, truck won't move forward, won't move backward. Just sits there while
I accelerate. There is no grinding or unpleasant sound. After about a minute of
switching from 1st to Reverse, something suddenly goes CLUNK and the truck
goes into gear. It seriously sounds scary, like a gear just breaking off something,
but the truck runs fine after that.

What the heck is this? I took it to a local Midas, thinking it might be a warranty
job, but they couldn't find anything wrong. (I don't think they checked thoroughly... just
drove it around a few times.) Any ideas? It's a gnarly sound. And it's getting colder up here in Michigan. Would appreciate any ideas anyone has. I can't really afford any more costly repairs!

 

did you have the slave cylinder replaced with the clutch?

 

Could be slave cylinder, I'm not a good transmission guy. Wheres Bob when you need him. lol.

 

Are you using the parking brake?....is it wet when you park? Common thing for the parking brake pads to rust or freeze (if below freezing at night) and you have to give it some gas to break free. Mine has sounded like a cracking sound sometimes, it can sound real nasty.

Here's the TSB on it.....
http://clubfordranger.com/brake%20note.pdf

 

I like this post the best. Hope it's the parking break and nothing more. Slave cylinder sounds
expensive. Things are freezing here in Michigan now. Thanks.

 

so you are setting the parking brake at night?

 

Clutch slave cylinder, or the throwout bearing lever/arm could be sticking.

 

can you actually put it in gear and rev it up and nothing happens?

 

Seems like water or something in the clutch line? takes a bit to thaw it out and when it does the built up pressure slams the slave?

 

sounds like the master is allowing fluid past the piston seals when the clutch pedal is pushed so he is not getting full pressure to move the slave cylinder. it makes sense because he is saying he attempts to get it in gear several times. im assuming you are pushing and releasing the clutch every time you try for a different gear? every time the pedal is pushed down the master is building a little more pressure, but not quite enough to fully release the slave. the slave gets more fluid every time the pedal is pushed therefore more movement until you can slam it into gear

 

These slaves are a different beast. There is no lever or arm on them like the external slaves on most vehicles.

 

last winter i had my parking break/cable "go bad" and it wouldn't release. if you think it might be that or want to try it. park it overnight/long period. with the parking break on. and then get in and drive. if its haulting your forward movement. slip into reverse. and drive in reverse. if it allows you to go ( with a little resistance) it could be something to do with the parking break/cable. just my experience.