Weird shifting issue. 2000 3.0 5 speed.

[jlarocque]

Hello all, I have a 2000 3.0 v6 ranger with 5 speed tranny. I was noticing a lot of play when engaged in a gear so I took of the shift boot and tightened the nut holding the shift arm in the transmission. I put it all back together and now with the truck off I can shift into all gears without depressing the clutch, but when in gear the shifter is much more solid with little to no play. Is this normal? I swear before I had to depress the clutch to engage a gear with the truck off. The only thing I did was tighten the nut some that holds the shifter in place.