5spd Reverse problem

[5spdPowerstroke1995]

Hey i have a 1995 5spd psd and the clutch feels fine 1st through 5th shift perfect and smooth but when i put it in reverse it goes in then when i let the clutch out the gears pops out and starts grinding so i have to go back to first then reverse and keeping trying till it works also it will work if i grab the shifter with both hands and hold it down in reverse but i cant steer like that so i was wondering if anyone knew what the problem is?

[2005F250]

Originally Posted by 5spdPowerstroke1995

Hey i have a 1995 5spd psd and the clutch feels fine 1st through 5th shift perfect and smooth but when i put it in reverse it goes in then when i let the clutch out the gears pops out and starts grinding so i have to go back to first then reverse and keeping trying till it works also it will work if i grab the shifter with both hands and hold it down in reverse but i cant steer like that so i was wondering if anyone knew what the problem is?

Mine does this sometimes and what I do is put it in reverse and if I know its in halfway I'll put a slight down force on the stick and let the clutch out real slow then usually it will just slide right into reverse.

[5spdPowerstroke1995]

Thanks for the advice but that wasnt working for me the gear is just not locking in.

[n9viw]

A few reasons the shifter pops out of gear:

1) Detent ball or spring for that gate position is worn, so selector (and fork) are not properly held in place.

2) Synchromesh ring (also known as a 'synchro' or blocking ring) worn, not aligning, or keeping synchro gear from locking on to the gear.

3) Worn or missing shift dogs under synchro gear.

I had a Borg-Warner T-5 do this in 3rd gear every so often, I'd have to hold it forward until it was time to shift, then shift. Eventually, it locked itself into gear. One of the shift dogs was loose, and one got spat out and locked the synchro gear on the trans gear, effectively locking me into 3rd gear! That was an entertaining ride home.

Long story short, sounds like a good time for a rebuild, or at least some recon under the cover.

[5spdPowerstroke1995]

Yeah i brought it to a shop and they said i needed to rebuild the trannei but the problem is i dont have $2500 to do that rite now so im sorta stuck

[5spdPowerstroke1995]

Yeah i brought it to a shop and they said i needed to rebuild the trannei but the problem is i dont have $2500 to do that rite now so im sorta stuck

[n9viw]

That's astronomical for a trans, but then again, the ZF is a huge trans. If the truck isn't your daily driver, I vote you learn how a trans breaks down into its component pieces by doing it yourself. Then, you'll have the working knowledge, as well as more money in your wallet.

I've rebuilt three manual transmissions: the 5-speed out of a '84 Nissan truck, a Borg-Warner T-5 from an '82 Jeep, and a Borg-Warner T-18a from a '78 Ford F250. None of them was particularly complicated... well, the Nissan was, mostly owing to the fact that they used stake nuts on the countershaft, and I have some fantastic scar tissue on my right hand thanks to a slipped wrench. :roll: The most expensive was the T-5, about $700, since I had to replace both the main and input shafts due to a bad set of input transfer bearings.

I'd never rebuilt a trans in my life before I did the Nissan, and I just dove into it, thinking, "It's a bunch of gears... how hard can it be?" Answer: Not very. Just make sure you work in a CLEAN environment, with NO nooks and crannies... in case a clip or shift dog spring comes out at high velocity and tries to hide. Get the small parts kit for it, and whatever other pieces you find problems with, and have at.

If you have the time, I say GO FOR IT!