M5OD Reverse/5th problem

[540malibu]

just bought a 94 speed ranger and 5th gear is against the radio, and reverse is where nuetral is supposed to be, all the gears work, but it gets stuck in reverse sometimes, could it be a bent shift fork? or is there something else that could e the problem?

 

[MAKG]

Someone put the stick on backwards?

 

[spittinfire]

That sounds like a shifter problem to me. I'd start simply and pull the stick off make sure that the plastic bushing is still there and I'm guessing it's not.

If you are completely new that trans has a plastic bushing around the ball on the shifter lever and it wears out and completely disappears. Personally I think it cracks and falls into the trans and the gears just grind it up, but that's just my idea.

In order to get to it you pull the stick(take the nut off and put it on the other side of the stud and tighten it until the stud pops out) and the shifter plate, its right under the plate. You can get them at the local dealership for around $20 I think.

That is where I would start and if it doesn't help it then you are talking about droping the trans and pulling shift rails. Let me know what you find.

 

[4x4junkie]

When I peeked into a M5OD a few weeks ago, I recall there was a separate linkage of some sort that worked the 5th/R shift. Maybe something could be bent or slipped out of position on it.

 

[540malibu]

the plastic cup is fine, i think it may be that extra linkage might be bent, can you get at that by only removing the tail housing?