Hard to get into gear at stop but when moving it's fine

[epatrick]

Hi,
Recently I took my 98 4.0 4x4 manual ranger off roading and unfortunately it got stuck where water was up to the floor for two hours and up to the bumper in gravel. Thankfully we got it pulled out but afterwards at a stop I clutch in and go to put it in gear and i have to push pretty hard to get it in one but once it's in with the clutch still in I can get into any gear. Also when moving it has no problems. Yesterday I tested the clutch and brake fluid and the clutch fluid was bad so I changed it and bled it by having someone push the clutch while I open the bleeder, close, then clutch off a few times. I drove it to work today and it's still hard to get into gear and the bite point seems to be lower.

I suspect I may not have bled it well enough but I'm wondering what some other possibilities are and other tests I can perform.

Any help helps thanks!

 

[pjtoledo]

a bad pilot bearing can do that. it grabs the input shaft and keeps it spinning.
also sounds like more bleeding is in order. these are difficult to bleed, air can get trapped in the MC.
there are lots of opinions & procedures about bleeding, do some searching 'n reading for what you can do.

 

[epatrick]

a bad pilot bearing can do that. it grabs the input shaft and keeps it spinning.
also sounds like more bleeding is in order. these are difficult to bleed, air can get trapped in the MC.
there are lots of opinions & procedures about bleeding, do some searching 'n reading for what you can do.

How can I tell if it's the bearing or I need to do more bleeding?