Transmission hung in gear HELP

[Mini-Stroke...]

I have an 87 ranger 4x4 5spd (fm145) with a 2.3l diesel, it will move but not without a whole lot of force applied via the engine. When I put the shifter in neutral and release the clutch, it will start to move forward, put it in reverse it will move forward a few inches POP!! then move backwards but like its binding up. Its the same in every other gear. I also drained the fluid and dropped the pan and couldn't find any metal shavings or obvious damage.
My question is this, what would have caused this?
And also, what other trannys will bolt up to my bellhousing?
Thanks for the help

 

[Mini-Stroke...]

Bump, any ideas?

 

[Shran]

Sounds to me like it's not going all the way into gear, probably because of the sloppy shifter you mentioned in your other thread. I had an FM145 that did the same thing. There is a plastic ball on the end of the shifter. It breaks off and then you have exactly the symptoms you describe. Pull the shifter out and inspect it, if the ball is gone, you will need another shifter as far as I know. Replacing the shifter fixed my problem.

 

[Mini-Stroke...]

Thanks, I tried that before I pulled the transmission out- no such luck for me
Pulled the trans, and removed the pan, put the forks in neutral? and it turned fine, but the tailshaft turned with it
If I put either of the forks in gear I cannot turn it by hand in either direction
Where is the 3rd shift fork? I can see 3 actuators?(I don't know the correct word) when looking in from the tailshaft, but all three are in line when the 2 forks that i can see from the bottom are in the neutral position
I'm stumped for sure, thanks for the help so far

 

[Shran]

Hate to say it, but I don't know. The new shifter fixed mine until I pulled it and did a V8 swap. Might just be easiest to find another trans.

 

[Mini-Stroke...]

I was afraid of that....

 

[feellnfroggy]

Prolly the bearings or synchros are shot. But is it possible your locked up in 4 low? This will cause binding somethimes too.

 

[Mini-Stroke...]

The transfer case isn't attached at the moment and its still bound up

 

[Mini-Stroke...]

Update- I found another trans in a junkyard for 50 bucks, so I'll keep the old one for parts and to tear down lol