HUGE Shift tower problem

[sin261]

HUGE Shift tower problem- FIXED

Hey guys im new here. I've been getting alot of info from the Tech. articles lately.

Vehicle : 2002 Ford ranger, 2WD, 2.3L, EXT. Cab, 105,xxx Miles. Trans is a Mazda M50D-R1 5-Speed


I replaced my spider gears yesterday because the went out on me (Stock 7.5 inch, 4:10 gears)

After the change the truck drove flawlessly for about 40 miles.

Came to a stop light and attempted a down shift when all of a sudden nothing with my gear selector was correct. There is NO neutral, no gear where they are supposed to be. I took the shifter off at a gas station and took a look inside. I did see the 3 slides with the side two still having there spring and balls. I also seen on the upper driver side the little do icky that looks almost like a switch. The center slide was very hard to move even with a small pry bar. I could not get either of the side two to move at all. I reinstalled the shifter and now it is STUCK in there. The trans. is also stuck in third gear. The shifter is riding up on the stereo deck of the truck (Right near the Climate controls)

I managed to get the truck home and its sitting down stairs.

Has anyone Ever experienced of heard of this problem? Nothing looked broken, no shinney metal, and i did not see any excesive wear.

Any help suggestions as to how i should go about repairing this?


OH By the way - The tranny was replaced about 25-30 thousand miles ago. I got it used out of a 2003 ford edge with 6000 miles.

 

[LittleHorse]

the rails are pretty hard to move with anything but the shifter. It can be done, but it's not easy. The shifter is designed to give you a lever advantage to help move the rails.

You need to move the center rail forward to get it out of 3rd, and then put the shifter back in. What is the condition of your shifter bushings? If the bushings were completely gone and your boot was loose enough I suppose it's possible that the bottom of the shifter came out of the rail.

If you install the shifter with the transmission in gear, you won't be able to shift in or out of any gears.

 

[sin261]

I Do believe that i did put it back in with the trans in gear now that i think about it.

I did not look at the bushings but im going to replace those just to be safe.

The Shifter is pretty stuck in there and im afraid to try and pry it out, for fear of damaging something.


Do you know what position That little switch looking do icky on the upper drivers side is supposed to be in?

 

[sin261]

Heres where i stand :

I got the shifter out

The driver side slide will move back (5th gear) It will NOT move forward (Reverse)

The Center Slide will move forward (4th gear) And to what i believe is the center But will NOT move back (3rd gear)

The Passenger slide Will NOT move forward (2nd gear) and it will NOT move back (1st Gear)

The Driver and Passenger slides are about an eighth inch back From what i believe is "center(neutral)" For the middle slide.


I tried a Small pry bar (6 Inch) and a long flat screw driver (1 foot) I Have not tried anything larger (Do not want to get to butch and break something)



If no one has an advice or solution, I'm thinking about removing the drive shaft and the cross member and letting the trans hang. This way i can take off the upper cover and have a look.

Does anyone know if This will offer me enough clearance to remove the upper plate? Or does the entire Tranny have to be removed?

 

[sin261]

Update :

I removed the upper cover of the trans that houses all the rods and the "C" Shaped gear selector. I realigned everything and am ready to put it back together.

I noticed that the Ring in the trans (I think it is responsible for engageing the syncros Which i believe to be the brass colored gears about an eighth inch thick) That controls first and second gear has about one half inch of movement completely covering the brass colored gears on either side. The Front ring only has about an eighth to a quarter inch movement and completly covers the front brass colored gear(3rd) but when i move it back it does not come close to the rear brass colored gear (about an eighth inch away) IS this normal? Or could this be the problem?


Refer to this picture if you are unclear of what im saying (I did not take this picture, it just clearly shows what im talking about)

http://s57.photobucket.com/albums/g209/yamaharacer040/?action=view&current=100_4017.jpg

 

[sin261]

Problem Solved :

I took a closer look at the Ring that was only Sliding forward about an eighth inch. I noticed that the little Wedge shaped pieces that seem to hold it in place like a detentes, were not in place. I put them back into place and now It shifts like a dream.


I did not even have to drop the trans =-]

Just took off the upper cover and had to do a little bending of the floor board and unbolt the cross member.


I tried to post my progress step by step just incase anyone eles ever has this problem.

 

[LittleHorse]

glad to hear you got it figured. My M5OD is trashed, glad yours isn't.