Shift lever slop in my '04 Ranger..

[TxDarth]

I read all I could find and watched the video on Utube about the selector plate coming loose requiring putting Loctite on the bolts and retightening. On the Ranger it is somewhat involved as the steering column must be dropped to get to this bracket. I did all this only to find everything tight on mine but there is a lot of annoying slop trying to figure out which gear is selected.

My question is where else do I look for a problem or a correction for this sloppy gear shift.

 

[Big Jim M]

On older vehicles you could place the shifter in a KNOWN gear and then adjust the needle to correspond to that gear. Then the rest of the gears would follow. Not so sure of the newer ones.
Big Jim

 

[hondaxr650]

More than likely, the plastic bushings on your shifter tube are worn. If you drop the column down some, you can see 2 metal straps that hold the shifter tube in place. You can pull those off to replace the bushings. Not a big job at all.

 

[TxDarth]

More than likely, the plastic bushings on your shifter tube are worn. If you drop the column down some, you can see 2 metal straps that hold the shifter tube in place. You can pull those off to replace the bushings. Not a big job at all.

this morning]

I replaced the whole tube this morning - new 40.00 from O'Reilly's. The gear selection is now more accurate - no slop but it is too stiff to move. I must have something too tight somewhere. I was just too pissed to tear it apart again today. I can't think where it could be tho - I packed with grease well and should have been nice and smooth, even Loctited the rear bolts to the gear selection plate too.