Having Problem W/3rd Gear???

[Fordsforever]

Hope there is someone out there that can help answer a question. I had posted in the wrong forum (being a newbe) but finally figured out how to make this work and wanting to get involved. having said this, here is my problem...
Just bought 1992 Ford Ranger W/2.3L 5sp. 2wd that has been sitting for approx 1yr. Owner went into service, had said clutch was bad. That was an understatement since the springs were busted and one completely out of the carrier. So... I Just replaced clutch/slave cylinder/pressure plate/input shaft bearing...bled system and have clutch. Replaced transmission fluid (never been done/has 72K on odometer). Fluid was very dirty. Transmission moves through all the gears stoped and clutch disengaged like it should. However, when I drive the truck and shift from 2nd to 3rd. it does not seem like I can find 3rd gear. I did find that if I then went to 5th over, I could come back and it would go into 3rd like it should. In addition, I could now shift 1st.2nd.3rd. 4th. and 5th. without problems 3-4 times, then 3rd gear would act up again and I would start the process over again by going into 5th and back into 3rd. Help!!!! This thing is driving me nuts

 

[MAKG]

Two possibilities come to mind.

1. Floppy stick syndrome. Give your truck some Viagra. No wait, replace the bushings at the stick's pivot point. You can get them from the dealer. An easy "tell" for this problem is that you can rotate the stick quite a bit while it's in gear.

2. Screwed up 3rd gear blocking ring or slip-ring/3rd gear splines. The transmission has to come apart.

 

[Fordsforever]

Thank MAKG for the response. Received a response on my first posting (in wrong forum) from Mutant Pony who basically suggested the same as you but mentioned the input shaft bearing. I was speaking with a transmission shop where I had my other truck for work and a statement was made to the effect, the syncro could be inoperative because of the length of time the vehicle had been sitting. Before spending any $$$, do you have any suggestions about an additive to clean out the transmission???

 

[MAKG]

If the blocking ring is not blocking, it needs to be replaced.

There is NO additive that you can put in a transmission that will put brass back on it.

 

[rangerslim]

I noticed you said you put "fluid" in it....If you put auto trans. fluid in a manual and not the correct gear oil it will sometimes cause this.......

Also if you do not have the correct amount of gear oil will cause this as well.....

 

[Fordsforever]

Thanks Rangerslim for the advice. I have the 5spd Tranny which takes the auto fluid. I think it is the M50D from other posts indicating the same thing...
Welcome aboard and have fun

 

[Fordsforever]

Thanks MAKG: I understand from what you are saying that the "blocking ring" is the same thing as the syncro. How hard is this to change out and is there a good field book that would assist in this process?

 

[Jspafford]

I don't see how a syncro could magically start working if you put the stick over to 5th. I would say you need to check the bushings... Cheap and easy to do.

 

[Mutant Pony]

Yeah, go to the top of the page, Just under the TRS logo is a button for "technical library" then go to transmissions, then shifter bushing replacement.
If your shifter is flopping around a bit, that is probably the problem.

 

[MAKG]

I don't see how a syncro could magically start working if you put the stick over to 5th. I would say you need to check the bushings... Cheap and easy to do.

It would be blocking in the opposite direction that way.

I agree it's not likely.

FYI, a blocking ring is an older name for the brass part of the synchronizer assembly. There are several parts that can legitimately be called "synchros," so I try to avoid the term. In particular, there is another part that is a synchronizer ring. I call it the "slip ring." You have three of them.