Replacing A TK5 Shifter

Introduction

This page explains how to replace a loose or sloppy shifter on a Toyo Kogyo TK5 5-Speed manual transmission that was available in the:

• 1983-1987 Ford Ranger 2WD
• 1984-1987 Ford Ranger 4×4
• 1984-1987 Ford Bronco II

The Problem

The TK5 5-Speed manual transmission has a plastic bushing (also referred to as a ball) on the shifter handle that allows the shifter to pivot inside of the shifter housing. These can crack and allow the shifter to become loose, feel sloppy, spin in the housing, or even lift up and disengage from the socket on the shift rail that actually shifts the transmission.

The TK4 4-Speed manual transmission actually has a metal ball that allows the shifter to pivot. Below is a photo to hopefully give you a better idea of the part in question.

Below is a photo of an AllState Gear TK5 replacement shifter on the left next to an original TK5 shifter on the right. You can see in the photo where that plastic bushing would sit inside of the shifter housing and how it allows the shifter to pivot inside of that dome shape and stay centered.

In the photo below I have removed the shifter boot to get to the base of the shifter. You can see that the shifter handle has spun and is facing backwards. When I lifted up the rubber boot and plastic outer bushing, I could see that the plastic bushing inside on the shifter housing was cracked and no longer had a tight hold of the shifter allowing it to spin around.

Fortunately, this is an easy fix. You just need to pull back the insulation to access the (4) mount bolts and remove the assembly. 

Be sure to vacuum this area really good so you don’t have anything dropping into the shifter when you remove the shifter housing.

Here’s a look inside the bottom of that shifter housing. You can see the bottom side of that cracked plastic bushing:

I didn’t take a photo of the inside of the transmission when I replaced the shifter, but here you can see the top of the transmission with the shifter housing removed and the shift rail socket that the snout of the shifter fits into:

Here is the new shifter from AllState Gear on the left with the original factory shifter on the right:

Allsate Gear describes their shifter as “Updated Aftermarket Shifter with Cast Iron Housing Instead of the plastic OE design.”

All you have to do is line up the shifter snout so that it’s seated in the shift rail socket, install the (4) mounting bolts, and reinstall the boot.

Other Shifter Sources

Core Shifters also sells shifters for Ford Ranger & Bronco II manual transmissions.

Mitsubishi FM145

The 1985-1987 Ford Ranger 4×4 and Bronco II also came with a Mitsubishi FM145 5-Speed manual transmission. Make sure you know what transmission you’re working on before you order any parts. The image below shows how to tell the difference between the FM145 manual transmission and the TK4 & TK5 manual transmissions. Note the FM145 trapezoidal bolt pattern on the shifter housing base compared to the rectangular bolt pattern on the TK4 & TK5 base and the FM145’s 12-bolt oil pan with a center drain plug versus the TK4 & TK5 14-bolt oil pan with a drain plug in the corner.

Links

AllState Gear TK5 Shifter

Core Shifters

Related Articles

Ford Ranger Manual Transmissions