Do I have a bad trans?

[kenwheeler]

94 3.0 ext cab 4x4. It was hard to get into gear. Thought it was the clutch/slave. Got it into 2nd and 3rd, enough to get it home. When we dropped the trans, the clutch didn't seem that bad. Worn but not excessively or down to the rivets. When I drained the trans fluid it was real thick and very dark, looked like 90 wt but real dark brownish or black. Replaced the clutch/pressure plate/throwout/slave/master cylinder and even a new line. Just can't get it into any gear. I can look through the trans check window and see the throw out pushing in the pressure plate fingers when the pedal is pushed/stepped on. When the engine is off it goes into all the gears.

Is it possible that I was lucky enough to get it into the garage before the trans finally went?

Or

Did that fluid swap from the nasty looking 90 wt to ATF have something to do with it?

Or

Would hooking up the wires wrong into the plugs be an issue? (grasping here)

Or

Is it possible to install the clutch backwards or something? (grasping again)

Thanks, Ken

 

[rangerstzz]

did you change the pilot bearing? will it start with trans in gear? and don't have anything right in front of you that you don't want knocked over in case your clutch isn't fully disengaging

 

[97fordrunner]

If there was 80w90 in there that could have messed up your syncros possibly. If it goes into gear when the truck is off but not running that would be my guess.

 

[kenwheeler]

Didn't change the pilot bearing. It's up on jackstands, so I'd be able to start it in gear. What would that show me? Thanks, Ken

 

[rangerstzz]

a shot pilot bearing [ early stage ] can bind on the trans input shaft making it seem like the clutch isn't fully disengaging, usually can't shift from neutral into gear from a dead stop with engine running but shifts ok once your moving or with engine off.
Easy clutch test since you're on jackstands, engine off, put trans in 1st, try to turn a tire by hand-shouldn't spin, have a friend press the clutch pedal to the floor while you try to turn a tire by hand-should spin if clutch is disengaging properly and pilot bearing is not bound up, put trans in neutral-should spin.
I'm guessing pilot bearing [ $10 ] by your description and problems before the clutch job. Hope this helps