m50d-r1 stuck in gear

[wrenches59864]

Hi, I'm new to the site, I have already found alot of useful info about my ranger which I bought new in '88. It is a 2x4 supercab with a 2.9L, five spd. I put it on jack stands last night to start pulling the tranny because I wasn't sure if I had a slave cylinder issue or trans issue. With the truck off the ground the shifter in the neutral position I released the clutch pedal and the rear wheels started turning as if its in gear.... any help?

 

[low_five]

gotta be the trans, not the clutch.

 

[wrenches59864]

That's what I figured the other night..

Anyone have suggestion on how to fix it??

 

[low_five]

does it click when you move the shifter around, or does the shifter feel loose and wobbly?

 

[wrenches59864]

The shifter is relatively tight and feels like gears are being selected. I'm wondering if my shift rods/forks are out of adjustment, if that's possible. The last time I drove it I wasn't able to shift gears while moving, however I could when I stopped. When I released the clutch the truck would lurch like it was trying to go forward and backwards at the same time. Feel bad for the old girl, it's been a great little truck and went way beyond it's call to duty.

 

[low_five]

dont talk about it in the past tense! especially a standard trans. why not just go get a manual transmission out of the junkyard and swap it in?

 

[AllanD]

If the lever is "snug" in the top cover there is virtually zero change of it
being something wrong in the shift mechanism.

But don't borrow trouble before you need to...

There is enough friction between the pieces inside the trans
to cause the tires to "spin over" even with the trans in neutral.

They will gradually build up speed to the equivilent of idle rpm in 4th gear
the thing is at the beginning they will spin very slowly... but you could
probably keep the wheels from turning with your hands (or lightly applying
the brakes), but it's probably ess dangerous to your fingers to have a pair of friends
trying to HOLD each wheel to stop if from turning in the first place to SEE how much force is being transmitted through the trans....



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[wrenches59864]

Thanks for the help...

I just want to thank everyone for giving me a few pointers... Don't worry Low Five I plan on keeping her on the road forever... I'll probally make the junkyard before it does! Been to Kodiak before when I was a coastie on the cutter Munro. I really liked it there, reminded me alot of here except more water. Anyway thanks again !

 

[low_five]

the munro is stationed here now, if you didnt know. I was thinking about it and it seems like you might not have come out of one gear and then put it in another gear. have you tried running the shifter through all the gears once or twice?

 

[wrenches59864]

yea tried it...

I have another question, can I use a M50D-R1 out of a 4 banger 2wd? The tech library covered interchanging V-6 trannies but nothing else of than the fact that 4 cyl rangers after '88 used the M50D-R1, found one in Billings for $200, might even find one closer. Kinda suprises me that the Munro is still in commission, of course the guard does get alot of mileage out of their stuff.

 

[wrenches59864]

Guess that won't work.

I checked some old posts and saw that the bellhousing bolt pattern isn't the same... bummer have to do some more huntin' outta season.

 

[gw33gp]

Unless you just want to change your transmission, you should first listen to to AllanD. There is nothing wrong with your transmission from you description so far. That is perfectly normal.

 

[low_five]

Unless you just want to change your transmission, you should first listen to to AllanD. There is nothing wrong with your transmission from you description so far. That is perfectly normal.

I dont know man, he described not being able to shift while in motion, but being able to shift when at a stop. it sounds to me like he is in a gear, and when he goes to put it into another gear, it binds up the transmission because it is in two gears at once. I think he is stuck in gear, like the title of his thread.

 

[BRUTUS_T_HOG]

The shifter is relatively tight and feels like gears are being selected. I'm wondering if my shift rods/forks are out of adjustment, if that's possible. The last time I drove it I wasn't able to shift gears while moving, however I could when I stopped. When I released the clutch the truck would lurch like it was trying to go forward and backwards at the same time. Feel bad for the old girl, it's been a great little truck and went way beyond it's call to duty.

if the transmission is in 2 gears at once the wheels will be completely locked up.

have an assistant try to push the truck forward or backwards while you sit in it. clutch pedal released and the trans in neutral, if it moves there is not a problem with the transmission. if it won't move until you push the clutch pedal then it is in the transmission. the most likely shift mechanism failure is 5th gear because it has a rocker that can come loose or lose contact with the shift rod.

these shift rods are not adjustable in this transmission. from what you describe it sounds like you are able to start out in 1st but not shift out of first? this sounds like low fluid in the transmission or a clutch failure.

we need more details

 

[AllanD]

I was really hoping for some response tp my suggestion...

It's all a matter oh "how much" it tries to push...

A bad clutch pilot bearing can cause a similar malfunction, but the worst of all is a pocket bearing failure which makes the trans seem to want to be in fourth plus whatever gear you shift it into

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