1988 2.0 Ranger Clutch Bleed. WT?!!

[chas88rngr]

I've got a 1988 Ranger 2.0 4 banger.

Great little truck, but it has started to not go into gear. I am currently rpm shifting unless at a stop, then it's a hard grind if it goes in at all. When the truck is off, it shifts no problem. Once I start it up, I can't shift manually.

I'm starting by bleeding the clutch - does this seem viable?

Anyhow, check this out - I was unscrewing the bleeder plug from the side of the bell housing (with no room to get to it, of course) and just the very tip of this plug was exposed by a 7/16 nut. No room for fingers, of course. What evil engineer thought this up?

Well, it gets better.. When I went to put this bleeder valve back in, it fell into
the bottom of the transmission case. The hole to thread it back into was 3" inside the bell housing. The bleeder plug is 3.25" long. What?!!

Now I have to order a new plug, and leave the old one inside the transmission case, or, take the entire ca$e off to get this plug.

Any suggestions about the plug, or the cause of the clutch problem?

I'm a noob

Thanks

 

[TimR]

pocket magnet.

 

[chas88rngr]

Was unsuccessful with a telescoping magnet this morning.
I'm guessing now that SOP is to drop the whole tranny to bleed the clutch in this Ranger?