Ranger Shifting problems

[infiniti30]

Hello,

I have 4.0 4x4 5spd 78000 miles. I have had the clutch replaced and have had two master cylinders replaced because of leaks. The truck sits up to two maybe three days a week between drives. The truck has a very hard time getting into first, second and sometimes third gear. Once it warms up the shifting gets a little easier but it is not smooth or very easy to get into the first three gears. No problems when the ignition is off which tells me its got to be a hydraulic issue. I have had the master cylinder bled already twice when it was replaced just about three months ago. I am at a loss. The local transmission and clutch shop said to bring it in and they will bleed it again due to another air bubble. Does this mean that it was not properly bled in the first place? Any other ideas? I am frustrated because I love the truck, and I just hate to keep having the same issue getting slowly worse and worse. Any information or tips would be a great help!!

Thanks!

 

[adsm08]

It sounds like air may be trapped, or the slave may be leaking. If the slave wasn't replaced with the clutch that would be my first suspect, but the masters almost have to be bled being held below the level of the salve to get all the air out.

There are other ways to do it, but I have had limited success with them. One method is to pull the master off the firewall and hold it upside down so the rod it pointed to the floor. The other is to remove the clutch inspection plug and cycle the slave back and forth with a pry-bar.

Those are needed because the design of the master is stupid. The master is slanted for space saving reasons. The line from the reservoir isn't at the top of the master, it is below top of the piston's travel, which allows for an air bubble to get trapped above that line. If engineers were so smart they would have pointed the master up, not down.

 

[88SXT]

Check your fluid level in your trans low oil levels will make shifting a PITA

 

[66 Ranchero]

I've had similar issues with mine but i haven't replaced the clutch yet. i figured i was havin those shiftin issues because the clutch had been worn down so far (115K and possibly the factory clutch) or the slave cylider was crappin out.

 

[black_demon69]

If engineers were so smart they would have pointed the master up, not down.

But it looks good on paper. LOL