Just joined your great forum as a newbie owner of a '94 ranger 2 WD. , one owner , 150,800 mi.

Here's the first issue I am dealing with : shifting from neutral or other gears to 1st with engine running is very difficult..... shifting into first with engine off is no problem .
Is linkage binding with some torque loading or what ?
I read a post suggesting worn linkage bushing . Any other thoughts ?

thanks

Might try changing the oil, if that doesn't help it might be the syncros going bad, the clutch may be going bad, or the pilot bearing is bad.

thanks for the reply , the only thing that seems likely from your suggestions is the pilot bearing ..... I can hear some rotational noise for 3-4 seconds after engaging the clutch then it goes away and if I don't keep pressure on the shifter during that time I am able to get it into gear.
As far as I am able to determine , I am supposed to be running ATF in this manual trans .......... that's unlike anything I have ever used in a manual trans ........... is this the correct and best lubricant I can use in this trans ?

That's what ford said to use, been used for years, its thin, and when the 3 rubber shifter plugs get loose you loose oil. It's a good idea to look under the truck for oil puddles under the trans, if it all leaks out, big expence to fix. Some people on here recommend a slightly different oil, I'm sure you will get more info.

i have 2 trucks with m50ds now, both of them have mercon atf in them. one of them i've had since almost new, and i keep up with fluid changes. 180k, works wonderfully. it shifts slow though, never could jam it in gear very fast but i think that's normal.

the other one, i bought the truck with a bad trans... the fluid had leaked off & the input shaft bearing looked like it had run dry long enough to mar the input shaft in half lol! I just put a used trans in it that had been sitting a long time. it had symptoms like you mention. but it went to work eventually. i think the syncros were frozen to the gears. finally the broke free maybe?

anyway, i just wanted to say that ATF is correct. some people even use mercon V, but i think good ol' mercon is plenty good.

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1999 xlt 2.5l 5-speed Supercab 159k
83 diesel 2.2l na
06 F250 6.0l psd
{click for lol}

thanks for the helpful info ....... no leaks detected yet , maybe due for a fluid change - I will have to look through service records .
where are these rubber plugs located ? ; would like to check them occasionally .

Those plugs are on the back end of the shifter cover, if the trans has been rebuilt, or they were found to be leaking, they might have been replaced with metal ones that look like miniture freeze plugs, they don't leak if put in right.

If you can hear some noise when you push the clutch down, you have a bad throw out bearing or pilot bearing. Time for a new clutch. I'd say that is why it is hard to get into gear.

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1998 ranger extended cab, 2wd, 4.0 ohv, 5 speed, sony xploid 52 4 way watt radio, 2 pair of pioneer 240 watt speakers, Cobra 29 LX LCD CB radio pushing 100 watts, k&n air filter, 15 inch exploder wheels, dual exhaust with 4 inch stainless tips, 2 12 inch subs with a 1000 watt amp just for the hell of it!

new project: dirt track modified racing at the local saturday night track.