can't finish clutch job

[davidgazinger]

hey,
I replaced my clutch disc and pressure plate. Everything is back together except the gear shifter. The truck is still up on jacks so the wheels are free to rotate. I started the engine (with the clutch pedal down, of course) The gear shifter will not move at all. It seems to be in the neutral position. As I let the clutch out the rear wheels begin to rotate as in reverse. I push in the clutch pedal and the wheels stop rotating. When I have the clutch engaged and put on the gas they move faster. When I apply the brake with the clutch pedal not down, the engine bogs to a stop and shuts off. This tells me the slave cylinder is doing what it is supposed to do. By the way. I can do all of the previous actions with the gear shifter on the seat next to me. I bled the system whitch was replaced a year ago. New master,res, and slave. I suspect that when I pulled the shifter out it was in the reverse gear. Did I screw up? How can I get this back together?

My '94 ford ranger is a 4.0L , 5 speed, xlt v6 and I believe the mits 501r manuel tranny.

 

[Earl43P]

Install the shifter, try to snick it into each gear with the engine off.

Don't force it, finesse it. Sounds like a shift fork might have jammed.

Are you saying that you removed the shifter stub? As in took the 3 torx head screws out, removed the little plate and the bushings?

Like here? http://www.therangerstation.com/Magazine/winter2007/shifterbushings.htm If so, trial and error, lots of patience.

 

[ForOffRoadDriving]

sounds like he must have as that is the only way i am aware of to get the shifter to do that. there is a small round pin you have to apply side pressure to with the bottom portion of the shaft in order to get it back into the gear it was pulled out of, its tricky but you just got to be patient.

 

[Combs Customs]

You can take a long screwdriver and align all 3 linkages in a straight line, that will be neutral. Right now the left side notch is forward, while the other 2 notches are centered. Slide that left notch to the center to get it in neutral.