5 speed trans only goes into 3rd & 4th gear

[toyotawild]

96 f-250 4x4 7.3 with the 5 speed manual. This one stumps me, the truck will go into 3rd and 4th gear like normal, and i can slip the clutch and drive normally. So I know its not the clutch. But all the other gears are just locked out 99% of the time. But when the truck sits just right, and i mean just exactly right, or maybe its just lucky, it will go into all gears. So if it will go into reverse then it will go into first etc. I dont get it. Im thinking it must be an issue with either a broke/bent shift fork or rail. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks

[late_99_PSD]

Yeah, sounds like a shift fork/interlock problem.

[toyotawild]

Pull the trans and tear it apart? I cant get to it from the the shift tower can I?

[late_99_PSD]

Not really. You can take off the shift tower and take a look, but to get to anything you'll have to split the case.

[Young-SC-Owner]

Id vote for bent shift fork.

[madpogue]

Is it any different rowing through the gears (or trying to, anyway) with the engine off?

When in neutral between third and fourth, does the shifter move smoothly left-right across the H-pattern?

[toyotawild]

In neutral it functions exactly the same as the truck being on. 3rd and 4th are great and the shifter moves left and right like it should. just refuses to go into gear 1-2 and 5th-Rev.

[madpogue]

Okay, if it's no better with the engine off, then it's not likely a synchro issue; sounding more like the fork/rail/selector goodies in the top of the tranny. Can't hurt to pop the top off and poke around; maybe something is just preventing the shifter from moving far enough left and right across the middle of the H to allow fore-aft movement in those gates. Cross your fingers it's something simple like that....