BW1354m Shift Linkage Support/Upgrade

[Mr.BlueSTX]

Ranger Specs:
1992
Ranger STX
4.0L V6
M5OD-R1
BW1354m

So I have a major issue with my shift linkage. Unfortunately my linkage has bent and the metal has been warped and will no longer hold any kind of load. It happened when I was shifting out of low gear with the clutch pushed in and It would not release causing me to put more force on the shifter. This bent the shifter and it got wedged between the tcase lever and the plate mount of the linkage. I went ahead and pulled it apart to find that it has been bent out of shape. I went ahead and bent it back to being straight and put it back it. I adjusted the linkage so that it wasn't preventing the shifter from moving. I went to shift from low gear again with the clutch pushed in and it bent on the spot.

Now I am at the point of looking for a better option for my shift linkage entirely or finding some way to beef up my current linkage so that it can handle shifting out of low gear. I am also am looking foe new plastic bushings for the shifter is I so chose to keep this design. 2Hi and 4Hi have not been an issue up till this point.

Any thoughts or ideas would be very helpful.

 

[SenorNoob]

I can't really see how that can be reinforced. I've seen a custom shifter made with a single piece of flat stock cut in a boomerang like shape with a notch on side and the pivot point in the middle. Of course you loose low range lockout. It becomes a straight pull.