Hard to shift into gear when stopped, '97 M5OD

[scotts90ranger]

I know the drill, over 20 years of M5OD driving on I think 4 M5OD's and thinking about it while driving around in the '97 the other day I noticed it's a pain in the tookus (hootus even!) to get it in gear if stopped... not sure if this 174k mile trans is just in better shape than I'm used to ('90 has a 5 digit odo, no idea... I rebuilt it once but didn't change gears just bearings and synchro's and anything that obviously needed changing).

I know the drill, shift into second then first quick while stopped to get the gears lined up then it'll go into first, that doesn't work on this guy... usually takes a quick stab at 2 then 3 then 4 to get it to go into something then into first unless you keep a little pressure on the stick and let the clutch out a bit slow at first... or push harder than I would expect... I know you're going to ask, no it isn't grinding, it's just like the gear teeth are hitting tip to tip most of the time when stopped...

I find myself just leaving the clutch pedal down at stop lights and such which could be hard on the thrust bearings in the engine eventually, so I figured I'd at least ask...

I imagine the clutch might not have the most life left so might go through the trans at some point in the next year...

Thanks

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

First thing i think of is air or a leak in the clutch fluid system.

 

[scotts90ranger]

I changed the master cylinder a year ago, clutch disengages about 1/3 the way down the pedal throw

I'll check though...