Transmission got stuck in 2nd, then later came back out, now it shifts perfectly

[Bajabronco]

I just picked up an '88 for ranger 2wd, shortbox, singlecab, 2.0 carbed/m5od manual. it was driving fine, then got stuck in 2nd gear all of a sudden. it was very very firmly stuck, started babying it home while trying all sorts of things to get it to shift (double clutching, stuff like that) to no avail. After half a mile or so, it just popped right out of gear when i lightly pulled on it. it now shifts fine through all of the gears. Something internal is mess up in the tranny i just dont know what. any ideas?

 

[LittleHorse]

I'd pull the shifter out and make sure the bushings are ok. if the shifter is allowed to move enough that it comes out of the shift rails, all sorts of goofy things like that can happen.

 

[Bajabronco]

I haven't pulled it yet, but the bushings feel veryh tight, i may pop the top off anyway.

 

[Bajabronco]

It did it again, i popped the top of the tranny off and the bushings are good and all the shift rails are in the proper positions for second gear (the one on the right shifted forward, and the center and left rails centered in their neutral positions) this time i can't get it back out of second.

 

[Bajabronco]

pulled the tranny and the problem is in the shift rails, there is a little pin in a hole in the 5/reverse rail that had slipped sideways and locked it, the 3/4 rail also has the same hole but no pin and the 1/2 has no hole. any idea how is is supposed to be? am i missing the pin for the 3/4 rail? I am currently searching for a blowup diagram.

if nobody knows what i am talking about i can try and get some pics up.

 

[Bajabronco]

They have something to do with the two switches on the sides of the tranny, but i cannot find a blowup diagram, they all focus on the guts of the tranny, not the shift rails.

come on guys! anybody got pics? or has anybody had the rails out?

 

[Bajabronco]

ok, the pins are just for one of the switches, and that switch wasn't enev hooked up as mine was a base model, i took the pin out and said f-it. everything is back in and works great. nearest i can tell the only thing that switch does it tell when you are in OD.

 

[Bajabronco]

just drove it 250 miles and it works great!