Have had a trembling idle now for two weeks and cleaned the MAF which did nothing, however I noticed when I pulled the power to the sensor the truck idled just fine. Is the sensor bad, it was also really hot to touch and the truck has 170k on it.

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2004 4.0 4x4 5spd xlt with 175k 4.10 axles, extended cab, cranked t-bars (not maxed), painted black interior, 32x11.5x15 bfg a/t and procomp steel rims
60/40 mod with a shorty console

ya might give this a read.
How to Test the Ford Mass Air Flow (MAF) Sensor
I would think if it is getting hot, something is shorting out.
You didn't specify if it was the sensor or the connector getting hot.
Also, has your CEL come on? If so, get the truck scanned, and come back with your results. It's free at most National Chain auto parts stores. (Auto Zone, Advance, Oreily's etc.)

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Black '98 XLT 4.0 liter, super/extended cab, 4X4, 5 speed manual

*Mods & Pseudo Mods*
Sony head unit, Expo OHC, Uniden CB, 16" Wheels from a 2002 Expo Sport Trac/255-0R16 tires

Proper protocol for diagnosing these issues is to first do a visual, looking for lose wires, shorted wiring, damaged/burnt/leaking hoses, etc etc. Obvious problems detected with a careful visual inspection. Fix anything wrong, test drive. If problem is still there, pull codes and diagnose + repair them, starting with the lowest code #.

*Plug the connector for the MAF sensor back in and do the above. In a nutshell MAF sensor has two wires in it, one wire is a heater and the other wire is near and parallel to this heated wire. Variations in airflow (mass flow of air in a specified amount of time) result in temperature variations on that "other", non heated wire. The PCM uses this data, in part, to determine the correct fuel quantity required for a given operating condition.

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2004 Ranger FX4 Level II, 5R55E, Sonic Blue Pearl

Proudly JAP/RICE free since March 2000

There is no codes and the all wiring connections are fine. Also the sensor was hot, not the connection. It runs fine with it unplugged so I know it's a bad sensor. I ordered a new one and will post results when I get it.

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2004 4.0 4x4 5spd xlt with 175k 4.10 axles, extended cab, cranked t-bars (not maxed), painted black interior, 32x11.5x15 bfg a/t and procomp steel rims
60/40 mod with a shorty console

I put on the new mass air flow sensor and the truck had no balls and drove worse than before, however the idle was corrected. I put back on the old sensor and the idle is at 750 and not shaky like before, weird? any take on why the new mass sensor cut power under acceleration? Night and day difference when I put the old one back on.

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2004 4.0 4x4 5spd xlt with 175k 4.10 axles, extended cab, cranked t-bars (not maxed), painted black interior, 32x11.5x15 bfg a/t and procomp steel rims
60/40 mod with a shorty console

Where did you get the sensor from?

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1999 Ranger 4.0 and extreme Snap-on tool fetish

Discount body parts. Said it was brand new.

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2004 4.0 4x4 5spd xlt with 175k 4.10 axles, extended cab, cranked t-bars (not maxed), painted black interior, 32x11.5x15 bfg a/t and procomp steel rims
60/40 mod with a shorty console