Clutch replaced, feels like different ratios

[98mazdaman]

Hey folks,
My dad had his clutch replaced on his 94 4cyl obvious 5spd and now the gears feel like different ratios. Truck used to cruise at 35 in o.d and now will barely cruise at 45 in od without vibrating and being noisy (you know what it feels like when in too high of gear). It feels like every gear moved up one.

 

[travisl1345]

35 in fifth gear would be an awfully low rpm for these engines. my truck 35 in fourth is still pretty low. it sounds like your truck is now running normally.

 

[Beanmachine7000]

^ +1... 35mph in OD is like 1200rpm... Lugging your engine like that isn't good for it...

 

[98mazdaman]

still feels like the ratios were changed. He said he used to could do that. idk if that is exactly right. but, i have driven it before and after, and it's definitely different. It also needs and rpm gauge. crazy it doesn't have one.

 

[Beanmachine7000]

I don't know what to tell ya... I don't know what could be different...

BTW - My '90 Ranger 5-speed didn't have a tach... Didn't have PS either... They were options for a long time...

 

[98mazdaman]

Yeah, I know. Maybe the guy changed something.

 

[Bryan22]

if the old clutch was slipping all the time, that would explain it.

 

[98mazdaman]

What do you mean by slipping all the time? We could drive it just fine and it didn't feel or sound like anything was wrong, or the clutch would have been replaced sooner.

 

[locovaca]

He means you weren't getting 100% power transfer between the engine and transmission; your engine was probably spinning much faster to get that 35 MPH because a lot of the power was being lost at the clutch.

At any rate, it was wrong before, it's right now. If you want independent, definitive confirmation, check your Ranger manual about what it says for shift points

 

[98mazdaman]

I didn't know it could lose power like that. Thanks for all the help.

 

[ceraboy]

A slipping clutch could definitely explain why it might feel like the ratios were changed, however, if the clutch were slipping that bad it would be accompanied by very bad smell and I doubt the clutch would slip so consistently for so long. There is no physical way the gear ratios can change from a clutch so it has to be slipping or now you are just paying closer attention to engine speed.

 

[feellnfroggy]

Sunpro has a 3 inch tach for cheap, I installed one on my 92 recently, It was cake. Theres a writeup in the tech library for the green wire. Go get one and it will make a world of difference.

 

[MusicManiac]

Yikes! 35 in 5th is insane. Just like has been said, sounds like you are straight now and it was wrong before for sure. Also, you don't really NEED a tach, it is just nice occasionally. My '66 baja didn't have a tach for a long time. You just have to know when to shift. No big deal really. I never really minded not having one that much.

 

[#1]

.

Just curious, what tire size and gear ratio do you guys who can't cruise 35 mph in OD have?

I have a 2wd with 3.73 gears and 255/60-15 tires and can cruise through town at 35 mph in OD without a problem. The truck gets better mpg at 35 mph in OD than it does in 4th. My clutch locks tight and doesn't slip.

.

 

[locovaca]

I run stock 225/70R14 with a 3.73. I have a hard time running 4th at a true 35 without lugging the engine; it's running around 1500 rpm or so at that point. I prefer not to "cruise" at anything below 2k.