Help, can't put shifter in gear after new clutch

[slushee]

2010 Ford Ranger
4.0 L
5 Speed manual transmission
160 000 km

I was having slight trouble putting my shifter handle in gear and other issues relating to the clutch.

I had a good mechanic put in a new LUK clutch kit, Luk Master and Slave cylinders last week.

Until today the clutch improved but I still had some slight resistance putting the clutch handle into gear.

On a side note, if the engines off I have no issues putting the handle into gear.

The mechanic said that to make the clutch go into gear smoothly, he would likely need to either rebuild the clutch or put in a used clutch with my new components.

Today I can't put my handle into gear 90% of the time.

Do you guys suggest getting a rebuilt transmission? Used clutch put in?

I'm really at a loss as to what to do, I wasn't expecting things to get worse as the mechanic said I should be able to drive it as is for a year or two.

 

[Curious Hound]

Sounds like he may not have gotten all the air bled out of the master/slave cylinders. If you pump the clutch pedal a few times does it get stiffer to push and finally allow you to put the transmission in gear?

By the way. To clarify, for better communications, the clutch is controlled by your foot pushing the pedal. The handle you move with your hand is selecting the gears in the transmission. It is not a clutch handle.

 

[Dirtman]

Yup, those slave cylinders are notoriously difficult to bleed. Almost guarantee there's air in it.

Btw, your mechanic put in a brand new clutch, didn't bleed it properly and now wants to remove the new clutch and put a used one in? Find a new mechanic...

 

[slushee]

I haven't gone back to him with this issue, I just wanted to be more informed before I did.

He was just saying that to make the problem go away permanently I would be looking at a clutch rebuild in the future.

I will try the clutch pedal pumping and report back if it works later tonight.

If the clutch pedal pumping doesn't work, are you still thinking I should ask him to the bleed the cylinders?

 

[Curious Hound]

Yes. Those systems are notoriously tricky to bleed.

 

[slushee]

Well, I tried pumping the Clutch Pedal 30-40 times, but it did not firm up. It remained the same, and the shifter still gave a lot of resistance in some gears and woudn't go in others. Again, with the vehicle off the shifter goes into all gears with no issue.

I will talk to my mechanic and see if he will do a bleed on both cylinders to see if it will go back to the way it was. (giving some resistance but being drivable).

Long term, do you guys think I should seriously look at a transmission rebuild? or would you suggest a used clutch. Because this is my daily driver, I almost just want to do the job so the clutch is 100% and I don't have to worry about anything for a couple years.

Please let me know what you think

 

[Curious Hound]

I thought you said he put new stuff in it. It's hard to put in gear with the engine running because with air in the hydraulic system, you can't disengage the transmission from the flywheel so the transmission input shaft is spinning. It really sounds like it needs to be bled properly. Once the air is out, pushing the pedal will create the necessary force to disengage the clutch. You can't do that with air because it is compressible. When you push the pedal now, you're just squishing the air. A system full of oil will not compress. So the force of the pedal on the master cylinder directly translates to movement of the slave cylinder.

 

[Dirtman]

Im lost... he installed a new clutch kit and cylinders but you want to put a used clutch in?

 

[slushee]

I thought you said he put new stuff in it. It's hard to put in gear with the engine running because with air in the hydraulic system, you can't disengage the transmission from the flywheel so the transmission input shaft is spinning. It really sounds like it needs to be bled properly. Once the air is out, pushing the pedal will create the necessary force to disengage the clutch. You can't do that with air because it is compressible. When you push the pedal now, you're just squishing the air. A system full of oil will not compress. So the force of the pedal on the master cylinder directly translates to movement of the slave cylinder.

Well its fixed! My mechanic did get the truck working!!

My mechanic went to a transmission specialist who said it was definitely something with the clutch.

My mechanic said he took off a inspection cover of some sort and watched as the clutch would sometimes work flawlessly and then sometimes not. When he saw it not working, he said he pressed on something or did something and saw a little bit of air spurt out. Afterwards it now runs like a dream.

It was most definitely air in the system, and you all were right that bleeding the air from the system is a real challenge!!!

The good news is, while he had my truck for a few extra days to get it working perfectly, he didn't charge any extra. He really is a good guy.

Thanks for all your suggestions and help. I'm posting this resolve because I've gotten a couple messages telling me they are having the same exact problem after putting in a new clutch. Listen to the people on here. Its most definitely air in your system somewhere.

Jason

 

[Curious Hound]

Yay! Glad it's fixed.

 

[Hexee]

Well its fixed! My mechanic did get the truck working!!

My mechanic went to a transmission specialist who said it was definitely something with the clutch.

My mechanic said he took off a inspection cover of some sort and watched as the clutch would sometimes work flawlessly and then sometimes not. When he saw it not working, he said he pressed on something or did something and saw a little bit of air spurt out. Afterwards it now runs like a dream.

It was most definitely air in the system, and you all were right that bleeding the air from the system is a real challenge!!!

The good news is, while he had my truck for a few extra days to get it working perfectly, he didn't charge any extra. He really is a good guy.

Thanks for all your suggestions and help. I'm posting this resolve because I've gotten a couple messages telling me they are having the same exact problem after putting in a new clutch. Listen to the people on here. Its most definitely air in your system somewhere.

Jason

Thanks for reply Slushee. My guy still can't get the clutch into gear. Has taken it apart 3x and still wont go into 1st gear. We put in a new clutch kit replaced the mangled bearings and nada....bleed and bleed the damn master/slave cylinder but still wont go into 1st gear.
PLEASE any suggestions...?