Tapping Into the Oppo Knowledge Base

"Denver Is Stuck In The 90s" (denver80222)
12/19/2014 at 14:42 • Filed to: Help

REPOSTED FOR MORE INPUT, I could really use your guys' help on this one

Do I Need New Shifter Bushings? Yesterday while driving I noticed my transmission was difficult to put into first, it sticky shifted and the lever was vibrating while in gear. I did a little reading online and the forums said that it was either the bushings or the slave cylinder. Knowing that the entire clutch assembly was replaced in September 2014, The clutch pedal is not slacking at all, and the bell housing is bone dry, I doubt its the slave cylinder. Also, I could just be imagining this and this could be normal operation for an M50D. I don't know, I'm still new to driving stick and I don't know enough about what is normal. Anyway, can I get Oppo's help on this one?

There is also about an inch of play in the shifter while in gear:

I know replacement bushings are incredibly cheap and easy to install, but considering Im on a shoestring budget I dont wanna spend any money until I'm at least close to positive what the problem is.

PS- It also grinds while downshifting into third, I chalked that up to a misaligned synchro and I have been learning to double clutch so I could live with it. But now I'm thinking the synchros are fine.

*This post is scheduled, I'm on winter break from college and Denver is 2 hours behind the east coast, so I may be asleep when this post goes live. Just an FYI in case I don't reply to your comment right away.*

DISCUSSION (37)

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
12/19/2014 at 11:31

The M50D is a huge PITA to service. You'll probably want to do the hurst lever mod so you can service the bushings without possibly destroying the gearstick. That happened to someone I know.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
12/19/2014 at 11:32

Very possibly shifter bushings, though I can't watch at work. If they're worn enough to affect the actual throw of the selectors on the trans... could be related to the downshifting grind, though that may still be a worn synchro. Vibrating stick, resistance to going into gear unless messed with until "aligned", all that can be shifter bushings.

Nibbles > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
12/19/2014 at 12:08

The toughness to get into 1st gear, maybe bushings, could just be it's an M5OD. Vibratey? Wibbly-wobbly? I don't know. My truck is the same, as have been all older manuel trucks I've driven. They've all been wibbly-wobbly and vibratey with throws at least a quarter-mile in distance

Dsscats > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
12/19/2014 at 14:48

Gonna be a dick here, ready? All of this information is readily available online and I feel like this is just an excuse to post your truck on Oppo. I'd sit back and write a 1 month summary at the end, and search the forums in the mean time because in the beginning paragraph it sounds like you already know what's wrong.

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > Dsscats
12/19/2014 at 14:51

I'm trying to get info from multiple sources. That, and the people on the forums are incredibly slow to reply. Im trying to confirm my suspicions by Sunday so I can order the part and install it before I go back to school on the 5th of January. Also My mom wont let me buy any parts until Im positive whats wrong (she still has my cash because I havent had time to make a bank account, I will soon though)

I own dead car brands only > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
12/19/2014 at 14:52

Is it cold? If so, that will make it tough to put in first gear. Solution? Leave it in first when shutting off or reverse depending on where you need to go.

Everything else is typical Ford. I had a ranger manual and everything was shot to hell but the tranny and motor kept on working. An inch of play in every gear, vibrated stick in every gear. Its old.

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > I own dead car brands only
12/19/2014 at 14:54

So its probably the shifter bearing, but I dont necessarily need to fix it

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > Nibbles
12/19/2014 at 15:01

I realize the long throws are just the M50D being an M50D, but something is definitely loose in the shifter assembly. When my friend convinced me that it was leaking I thought that was the explanation, knowing now that its not and knowing the M50D's go through shifter bearings like babies go through diapers, I think that explains all my transmission issues. It may not hurt to bleed the slave cylinder too, its been cold.

Big Bubba Ray > Dsscats
12/19/2014 at 15:01

I thought my posts about my Z were excessive. These truck posts are actually excessive.

I own dead car brands only > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
12/19/2014 at 15:04

We didnt fix ours for 20 years.

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > I own dead car brands only
12/19/2014 at 15:04

Well my truck is 21 years old, so It might not be a horrible idea

Opposite Locksmith > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
12/19/2014 at 15:12

> somehow maintains a 4.0 while his mother does everything for him

>reposts problem he pretty much explains himself after a few hours

Dsscats > Big Bubba Ray
12/19/2014 at 15:13

Dude, I haven't seen SHIT about your Z in a long time! NEEDS MOAR EXCESS

jariten1781 > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
12/19/2014 at 15:18

It's been a long while since I've touched one of these, but I remember them wearing their shift forks which can cause all sorts of slop and poor engagement. Gotta drop the trans and pull the rail cover to inspect. Probably not worth doing until it's a pain to drive.

Nibbles > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
12/19/2014 at 15:18

Cold weather does affect manuel pretty hard. My truck won't shift nicely at all if it's chilly outside. Once the fluid warms up it's fine though.

Dsscats > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
12/19/2014 at 15:21

And on another note, you've posted on Opop 40 times in the past week. Please just be considerate of what should and shouldn't be posted.

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > Dsscats
12/19/2014 at 15:30

I actually just counted, 32 posts this week. I think all of them werent out of place on oppo, except maybe the whats for dinner post. But that contributes to the community. So while it wasnt technically car related, It benefited Oppo by provoking discussion amongst oursleves. But that is a lot to post in such a short period of time, you're right. What I'm posting isnt out of place here, but it should be more consolidated. I'll try to work on that

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > Nibbles
12/19/2014 at 15:32

My Ranger also hates going from reverse to first, I always have to hang out in neutral for second, or the other way around too

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > jariten1781
12/19/2014 at 15:37

If I'm correct, wouldnt it pop in and out of gear by the time the forks are worn to the point of needing them replaced?

Big Bubba Ray > Dsscats
12/19/2014 at 15:39

Been really busy the last couple weeks cause of projects and finals. Here's a shitty picture I took of it this morning.

Kinja'd!!!

Gonna be putting a few new parts on in the next coming weeks so keep an eye out!

IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
12/19/2014 at 15:51

Do you know when the transmission oil was last changed? It's something people forget about a lot. Throw in some new syncromesh and it might help out, might help with your third gear grind too.

lonestranger > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
12/19/2014 at 15:54

I have no idea what the first video is supposed to be demonstrating. Looks like normal operation to me, as does the slack in the second video.

My old '92 Ranger and other similarly equipped trucks usually had a harder time getting first gear compared to most of the thousands of other vehicles I've driven.

On a related note, the M5OD actually uses ATF rather than gear oil. I swapped out my factory-fill fluid for some Mobil 1 Synthetic ATF. It smoothed out the shifting in all gears, especially in lower operating temperatures.

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK
12/19/2014 at 15:55

It was done the week before I bought my truck. Im gonna call the guy bought it from and see what he put in there. The manual says to use Mercon V, but that would not shift well when cold. Is there a synchromesh additive I can put in maybe?

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > lonestranger
12/19/2014 at 15:58

Te first video was supposed to show the vibration in the shifter in gear, but I guess the phone was vibrating too much as well to demonstrate that. I'm also aware it uses ATF

IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
12/19/2014 at 15:59

synchromesh is just a brand of transmission oil, but with a transmission like that in the ranger it shouldn't matter that much. If it was just done then it isn't the problem. Probably shifter bushing, but I don't think it's that important anyways.

Jayhawk Jake > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
12/19/2014 at 15:59

It has nothing to do with it be car related or not, it's flooding the board with posts about your truck. Save it up for an occasional post. We don't need to see a new post about your truck 5 times a day

RoadHead -- Armand > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
12/19/2014 at 16:02

You're overthinking everything. I know it's your first car, but stop. Just drive it. Drive it. And drive it some more. Learn the mechanics of the car naturally and intuitively. It honestly doesn't even seem like anything is that wrong....it's not a new car it'll have some play. Just drive it. Drive it. Drive the truck Denver. When things are actually going wrong you will be aware.

Your boy, BJR > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
12/19/2014 at 16:03

you ever think that the reason your truck has noises, clunks, loose steering, and sloppy shifting is because....I don't know.....ITS A 21 YEAR OLD TRUCK?!

Seriously man, you bought an old truck. Expect this kinda shit. Make a post once it is actually broken.

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK
12/19/2014 at 16:03

Whoops replied to the wrong person

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > Jayhawk Jake
12/19/2014 at 16:04

The thing is, most of my posts arent about my ranger anymore. Ya I post about it often, But 90% of what I post is either art related, memes, videos, or miscellaneous other car related.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
12/19/2014 at 16:06

Oh, jesus. Here we go.

Yesterday while driving I noticed my transmission was difficult to put into first, it sticky shifted and the lever was vibrating while in gear.

This is normal. It vibrates in gear because it's a lever going directly in the transmission, which is bolted directly to the engine, which vibrates. You feel those vibrations. Every manual truck I've driven has done this.

Difficult to put into first? That's fairly normal as well. I've only driven one truck that was easy to get into first. Not sure if it's something broken per se, but it's doubtful that it's anything to worry about. My friends '89 Ranger did the same thing.

There is also about an inch of play in the shifter while in gear:

Dude, it's a truck transmission not a friggin' precision-made racing 7-speed with a short shifter and gates. It's sloppier than an asian Las Vegas hooker. If you want a crisp and precise shifter sell your truck and sell your body 'till you can afford a Koenigsegg or something.

And seriously, five minutes of googling about truck manuals could tell you what to expect. Trucks are work machines made for moving shit and being durable. Not about being quiet, vibration-less cars.

My advice to you? Go to a Ranger subreddit or fan forum. Oppo is not a friggin technical help desk. Sure, we can ask the occasional question, but Oppo is not here for you to use as a personal resource every damn time you have the slightest question about your car.

Oppo is not here for you to use as a personal resource every damn time you have the slightest question about your car.

Oppo is not here for you to use as a personal resource every damn time you have the slightest question about your car

RoadHead -- Armand > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
12/19/2014 at 16:13

also it's not a racecar. It's a FORD FREAKING RANGER. It's a mass produced work truck. It will have play in the transmission, in the steering, in fuckingn everything. But it's a truck god dammit, and it will go on.

jariten1781 > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
12/19/2014 at 16:18

Forks wearing can cause all sorts of stuff. Sometimes it only effects one rail, sometimes all gears. Depends on the wear.

Once they get really horrible you'll get stuck in a gear or unable to get in gear, but before that you'll notice significantly greater effort getting into (usually) first and third, or getting out of any gear. I'm not talking about difficulty like binding at a stop in first or the syncros chunking a bit, I'm talking about having to gorilla slam to ever use those gears. Slop can increase with the forks wearing due to the additional effort allowing more fore/aft freeplay of the stick. Usually it's progressive but permanent (ie, it's not something that happens only sometimes and it doesn't get better by itself). You can drive a long ass time on worn forks too (like decades) once you learn to drive around their idiosyncrasies since you may not catch the wear points anymore.

Nibbles > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
12/19/2014 at 16:22

I wouldn't know what that's like

I haven't used first in so long, I think the cog has grown cobwebs

Jayhawk Jake > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
12/19/2014 at 17:24

90%? Please, learn to be honest with yourself. These are all from the past 7 days. If they aren't directly about your ranger, they at least talk about it. These compose at least 60% of your original posts

http://oppositelock.jalopnik.com/tapping-into-t…

http://oppositelock.jalopnik.com/i-hung-out-wit…

http://oppositelock.jalopnik.com/i-parked-next-…

http://liveandletdiecast.kinja.com/im-trying-to-l…

http://oppositelock.jalopnik.com/my-entire-pay-…

http://oppositelock.jalopnik.com/rate-my-drivin…

http://photography.kinja.com/frostbitten-16…

http://oppositelock.jalopnik.com/bahahahaha-167…

http://oppositelock.jalopnik.com/i-havent-reset…

http://oppositelock.jalopnik.com/mornin-oppo-16…

http://oppositelock.jalopnik.com/i-need-more-sa…

http://oppositelock.jalopnik.com/what-is-steeri…

http://oppositelock.jalopnik.com/i-saw-an-x1-9-…

http://oppositelock.jalopnik.com/i-wish-straigh…

http://oppositelock.jalopnik.com/i-think-i-like…

http://oppositelock.jalopnik.com/this-is-so-wei…

http://oppositelock.jalopnik.com/mornin-oppo-16…

Post about your ranger occasionally, please. But know when too much is too much. I do it from time to time too, we all do. But since you've gotten that ranger it feels like we've seen more posts about your ranger than everyone else's cars combined.

Don't take this the wrong way: I'm not being mean. I'm just being honest. For the sake of Oppo try to balance it. You've been better about it the past few days, but don't kid yourself and pretend it's not as much as it is

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
12/19/2014 at 17:26

21 year old manual. Let me just repeat, 21 year old manual. In a truck. It's winter. Shits gonna be weird.

Just chill. Nearly none of what you freak out about are really problems. It's an old car, it's gonna have its quirks. Trust me, mine has about 500 more issues then I actually post about. They're both old cars, old American cars at that. They're from an era where corners were cut, even in mechanicals. They're gonna act weird in the cold, the heat, anything period really.

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
12/19/2014 at 17:33

I've been meaning to tell you. I saw a white astro van with the same paint wear pattern on the hood as your safari